fa premiership, Matchday 34
Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, 12.45pm GMT, Saturday 2nd May 2009.
Attendance: 33,767

Manchester United completed another significant step toward retaining the Premiership title, when a potential banana skin fixture was turned into three easy points thanks to goals from Ryan Giggs & Ji Sung Park.

The Visitors who stumbled last season in the Snow at the Riverside went six points clear with being tested by a poor Boro side.

Making seven changes, SAF rested key players giving starts to Foster, Giggs, Scholes, Macheda & Berbatov, whilst giving Rio Ferdinand some much needed recovery time on a sore rib.  Forcefully keeping Boro from getting even half a chance United controlled the game with ease.


With a more rigid 4-4-2 formation Giggs & Scholes combined very well in midfield as United began to probe for an opening goal, United looking the more likely to score as Boro opted for long high balls which Vidic & Evans gladly soaked up with ease.

Boro did however create the 1st real chance when Ben Foster saved low with his feet from after an intelligent run from Ex Arsenal forward Aliadiere.

With the best of United chances coming in the form of Wayne Rooney shooting from distance the latest player to fill the left side of United's attack was an abundance of energy as his tireless effort demonstrated.

United continued to pressure Boro as Matthew Bates snuffed out a dangerous cross from Wayne Rooney, a cross which Ryan Giggs was about to tee himself up for.

And from the resulting corner Downing headed clear before United took the lead through Ryan Giggs.

With Rooney collecting Downing's headed clearance he passed to Vidic & the Serb supplied a ball to Macheda, the Italian making his 1st League start for United managed to flick the ball to Giggs at the same time confusing Boro's keeper Brad Jones as well as forcing a mistake from Wheater, seizing his moment Ryan Giggs then arrowed a shot into the corner of the net for 1-0.

Boro then had a weak appeal for a penalty turned down by Referee Mark Halsey as both Vidic & Berbatov clearly touched the ball with their hand, if a penalty had been given it would have been harsh on the Champions as both players unintentionally as replays showed touched the ball.

Macheda was then booked for persistent late fouls as the exciting young prospect learns the fine art of playing the Premiership.

Boro's keeper almost gifted United a second when his sold short a pass to his defence which Berbatov pounced upon & raced toward goal, the Bulgarian teed up Paul Scholes, but with a first class chance hit a second rate shot which let Boro off the hook.

In the second half Macheda went close after more good work from Wayne Rooney, but United need a second & duly got what they were searching for after heavy involvement, once again from Wayne Rooney.

With Scholes & Giggs combining brilliantly, Wayne Rooney found himself centrally in space & after spotting JSP's well timed run, the South Korean bamboozled Wheater as he latched on to the White Pele's majestic throughball, before lashing a shot past Jones for 2-0.

Gareth Southgate then sent on Alves and Didier Digard to try and salvage something & a brief flicker saw the misfiring "Boro Goal Machine" ended a threatening run with poor ball control.

At the same time SAF gave Tevez a run out at the Riverside and only a good block from Wheater stopped the Argentine from joining Giggs & Park on the score sheet after more good work build up play from Scholes & Giggs.

The Goal Machine Alves then showed why Southgate has benched the Brazilian after he attempted a shot on goal from an awarded free kick which was more suited to Rugby than Football.

United with match won, saw Rooney again go close & JOs denied by a block by Matthew Bates as ran the clock out on Boro leaving United to claim three massive points taking another step toward the title.

A big up goes to.........

Thanks to Steve Power for the transport

Patty for the tip off of the spare tickets.

and the following reprobates.........

Zian	Austin	Lee Dixon	Abbott	Kev Killen	The Wasp Big Ged	Thompson	Ryan "Cheeks" Cain	Simon	Craig

John O'Shea was brilliant, showing an excellent touch & just how important the Irishman is to United.

The line up today also clearly gives a picture for Tuesday night, who would you pick??.

What's your opinion?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW.
 

 MUFCINFO's MAN OF THE MATCH