ManU sinks Hull to retain the second position ( ManU 3-1 Hull City)

Manchester United edged an error-strewn encounter with Hull to close to within two points of leaders Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title.

Wayne Rooney drew first blood for United on the stroke of half-time, but later made a calamitous back-pass which paved the way for a Hull penalty.

Craig Fagan levelled from the spot, but Rooney made amends when his low cross led to an Andy Dawson own goal.

Dimitar Berbatov then sealed the win after a pin-point pass from Rooney.

At a stage of the season when champions United traditionally begin to hit their stride, the victory closed the gap on Chelsea after they were held to a goalless draw at Birmingham on Saturday.

But for all Rooney's influence, Sir Alex Ferguson's men - who arrived on Humberside in wounded-animal mode after suffering two defeats in their previous three Premier League outings - were rarely at their best.

In fairness that had much to do with Hull, whose industry and commitment proved formidable obstacles despite some hairy moments for goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, most notably when he miscued a first-half clearance.

Having seen his team charged by the Football Association after last weekend's mass confrontation at Arsenal, Phil Brown had looked to foster a siege mentality among his players in the build-up.

And his players clearly bought into the billing of unfairly-punished underdogs as they absorbed United's strong start and were unlucky to be denied an early penalty.

Fagan found Richard Garcia with a precise through-ball, but as the Australia international raced into the area he was upended by a sliding tackle from Nemanja Vidic that prompted furious protests from Hull.

It was Alan Wiley, the referee whose fitness was questioned by Ferguson after United's 2-2 draw against Sunderland earlier this season, who came to the visitors' rescue.

Wiley saw nothing wrong with the challenge, but no sooner had he waved away the complaints than Hull were at United again, Seyi Olofinjana forcing a fine reflex save from Tomasz Kuszczak.

Another opportunity to open the scoring went begging when Olofinjana put Stephen Hunt through only for the Republic of Ireland midfielder to shoot wide.

As the misses mounted for Hull, the feeling grew that there would be a price to pay against a United side desperate to bounce back following last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Fulham.

The return of a trio of defenders in Rafael da Silva, Vidic and Wes Brown provided a platform for United to go forward with greater confidence, and although their attacking fluency was never at its best, they nonetheless offered plenty of threat.

Giggs twice went close early on, volleying on to the roof of the net before rippling the side-netting with a free-kick, while Rooney and Rafael both forced acrobatic saves from Myhill.

The danger was clear and, sure enough, with the interval beckoning Darren Fletcher swung in a near-post cross from the right flank, Giggs deflected it to Rooney, and the lurking England man prodded home from close-range.

With the hour mark approaching, however, Rooney gifted Hull a reprieve, directing a woeful back-pass to Kuszczak which was intercepted by Fagan.

We're well positioned for title bid - Phelan
Da Silva bundled over Jozy Altidore from the resulting cross, and Fagan shot unerringly past Kuszczak to ensure that there would be no repeat of Geovanni's missed spot kick against Arsenal last week.

Sensing the possibility of a win that would lift them clear of the relegation zone, Hull poured forward in search of a winner, but their enterprise was to prove their undoing.

With 17 minutes remaining, Giggs led a United counter-attack, slotting the ball through for Rooney to direct a low cross towards substitute Ji-Sung Park which the sliding Dawson could only direct into his own net.

And Rooney was once again at the heart of the action as United put the polish on their win with eight minutes remaining, directing a slide-rule pass through the legs of Anthony Gardner that enabled Berbatov to score with a tap-in.

Middlesbrough 0-2 Man Utd

Manchester United took a step closer to retaining the Premier League title with a comfortable victory at relegation-threatened Middlesbrough.

Ryan Giggs gave the visitors the lead in the first half when his low drive found Brad Jones' bottom left corner.

Ji-Sung Park scored United's second when he smashed in Wayne Rooney's neat pass following a delightful move.

Boro's best chance fell to Jeremie Aliadiere whose low shot was saved by the legs of Ben Foster early on.

The league leaders will have been delighted to have come away from the Riverside with three points having performed below the high standards they are used to.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rested key players with Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal in mind and, surprisingly, Middlesbrough rarely forced United to increase their tempo.

Boro, who remain second from bottom in the table, were bereft of ideas and relied on hopeful high balls into the area, which centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans coped with admirably.

The home side did have one clear chance when Marlon King played in Aliadiere but Foster was alert to make the save.

At the other end, United's front pairing of Dimitar Berbatov and Federico Macheda were largely ineffective in a 4-4-2 formation.

First goal was important - Phelan

So when United scored, it was no surprise it came from the boot of the PFA Player of the Year, who is as desperate for his 11th league title as some of his team-mates are for their first.

Rooney found Vidic, who had been forward for a set-piece, who in turn laid the ball to Giggs. The 35-year-old Welshman steadied himself before placing his low effort wide of Jones' left from the edge of the area.

His veteran partner in the middle, Paul Scholes, 34, should have tested Jones after the break, but uncharacteristically failed to find the target with both of his long-range efforts.

Luckily for Scholes, United are not short of sharp-shooters. Their second came after a sublime move that saw Giggs and Macheda play a one-two before the fabulous Rooney threaded the ball to Park, who powered in a low drive.

It was the highlight of the match and underlined that gulf in quality between the two squads.

Southgate satisfied by Boro effort

Manager Gareth Southgate brought on £13m striker Afonso Alves and Didier Digard, but neither could ignite a Boro side flattened by United's double strike.

Southgate's side have three fixtures remaining to save their season, and are three points behind fourth-from-bottom Hull, who play at Aston Villa on Monday.

They now travel to fellow strugglers Newcastle a week on Monday, 11 May, in what promises to be a tension-filled clash, knowing they will have to improve tenfold in their remaining three games if they want to stay in the division.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate:
"We've gone into the last two games against teams in the Champions League semi-finals and were looking for a miracle. To have a chance you need to take the lead.

"But we did get stuck into them early on but it is very tough mentally when you fall behind because they are so good defensively.

"The second goal killed the game but I have to give credit to my players because they never gave up.

"We have got to put this game behind us and start preparing for our next match against Newcastle, which is a huge game for both sides."

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"It's a big step forward with only four games left now. I keep saying you whittle the games away until there are none left.

"It was a very good performance, they all worked their socks off and once we got a hold of the ball we always looked a danger.

"Once we got in front, that was the key to it because they're a young side, Middlesbrough."

Middlesbrough: Jones, McMahon (Digard 55), Wheater, Huth, Hoyte, O'Neil (Emnes 70), Sanli, Bates, Downing, King (Alves 55), Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Arca, Adam Johnson, Grounds.

Booked: Huth.

Man Utd: Foster, O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra (Rafael Da Silva 78), Park (Nani 74), Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov, Macheda (Tevez 55).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Ronaldo, Anderson, Gibson.

Booked: Macheda.

Goals: Giggs 25, Park 51.

Att: 33,767

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
man of the match: Manchester United's Ryan Giggs (8.16 on 90 minutes).