Manchester United vs. Middlesbrough Review

United were successful in extending their lead at the top of the Premiership pile to six-points courtesy of a Darren Fletcher header to win the tie 2-1! It was all square before then as Louis Saha’s 19th minute penalty had been cancelled out by Morrison minutes earlier.

The game wasn’t without it’s share of controversy though, as Cristiano Ronaldo, of all people, decided to go down from a challenge from Mark Schwarzer early in the first half around the 20th minute mark. The replays suggested their was all but no contact on the United winger but the ref took the bait and gave United a penalty. Personally, it was a bit of a surprise to see Louis Saha step up to take the pen as he was most definitely the last person I was expecting to step. But I guess, it was a nice way to lay his recent ghosts to rest with a nicely taken pen this time around to give us the lead.

More importantly than anything else for me, was the way we dominated them and imposed our own style of play and stamped authority on the game. It reminded me of those title-winning years when we just could not stop winning, and it seems some of that attitude is back into the Red Army again! Although Boro did enjoy a couple of chances and yes, the game was a bit end-to-end but there was no real threat to Van der Sar and we were comfortable, if only 2-1, winners in the end.

Just as Jamie Morrison had cancelled out Saha’s opener for United in the 66th minute, it literally took minutes for us to go on the offensive again and Giggs’s perfect left-wing cross, after a sweeping move, found Darren Fletcher whose header was strong and perfectly directed to score our second and hand the advantage back to Fergie’s boys. It was nothing less than we deserved and Fletcher continued his string of impressive performances for United of late.

I know the press has been going on about the Ronaldo incident but with the way we played out there, I would’ve bet ten grand we would’ve won the tie anyway! Hail the Red Army!

Other Reports: BBC, Soccernet.

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United go into the weekend with a trip to Teeside to face Middlesbrough at the Riverside an a rare opporunity to extend their lead at the top for sure. Chelski aren’t playing and even though they are going to have a game in hand over us come Sunday, the more the difference between us and them, the better!

Fergie has made no secret of his feelings that Southgate should not be managing Boro. To some extent, I do agree as this opens the door to all sorts of cases being thrown in to appoint other managers without their coaching badges, to manage Premiership teams. Although Glenn Roeder’s case was a bit different, but it has opened the lid and now someone’s gotta close it, once and for all.

As far as team news goes, we should have a full-strength side at our disposal following the impressive win in mid-week over the Toffees where several fringe players got their chance and they came up trumps, for once. Boro have Stuart Downing coming in to the squad following a groin injury. Other than that, they are ok too. So, an important away game at the Riverside awaits and one we MUST win (how many times have I said that recently!). Boro haven’t been the best of hunting grounds for us Red Devils and it’s about time we put the record straight.

My Preddy: Boro 1 - 2 United

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