United 1-0 Middlesbrough

United once again got a 1 – 0 win and closed the gap with leaders . United produced numerous chances throughout the match and the credit for the score goes to Middlesbrough defence and Ronaldo , Park , Rafael .... Once again players like Neville and Scholes showed why they are considered the best in England
United started the game brilliantly with Wayne Rooney producing a fine save from the keeper . Then Park made a descent run and crossed for Ronaldo with goal gaping open the European player of the year produced a shot which kids should be ashamed of . Then once again Rooney crossed and with the goal wide open again Ronaldo missed the target . Throughout the first half Boro defended well frustrating United which was present on the attitude of Ronaldo . Just before half time Rooney produced a thunderous shot which the keeper somehow managed to tip over
Rafael was exposed many times on the back though he was brilliant in attack . He should learn a lot and the position was later steadied by club captain Neville . He was once again brilliant after impressing against Stoke on Friday . Scholes steadied the United attack later in the second half and he passed like he was in the field throughout the match .

The need for the hosts to break the deadlock became more evident as Middlesbrough embarked on a dominant spell of possession.They nearly took the lead in the 61st minute when Matthew Bates, an influential presence all evening, pinged a bouncing cross in from the right for Tuncay to nod just past Edwin Van der Sar's post.

But when Paul Scholes replaced Darren Fletcher in United's midfield, the flow of play swung back into United's favour almost immediately.And they duly broke the deadlock in the 68th minute when, from a swift, swarming attack, Carrick whipped in a cross that David Wheater could only deflect into the path of Berbatov, who volleyed home from eight yards. Though he was invisible throughout the match Berbatov compensated all through his strike. The game saw one of the biggest miss of the season with Park putting the shot embarrassingly over the bar from just under the bar as Neville brilliantly picked him up . Though he was brilliant with his passing and runs Park should improve his finishing


Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva (Neville 62), Vidic, Evans, O'Shea, Park, Fletcher (Scholes 62), Carrick, Ronaldo (Giggs 84), Rooney, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Welbeck, Gibson, Possebon.

Booked: Park, Scholes.

Goals: Berbatov 69.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Bates, Riggott, Wheater, Pogatetz, Aliadiere (Emnes 76), O'Neil, Arca, Downing, Sanli, Alves.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Taylor, Huth, Shawky, Porritt, Walker.