Middlesbrough vs Manchester United
Match pulse
MIDAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Man United 1-0
Manchester United beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on Sunday, December 28, 2003 at The Riverside Stadium. Goals for Man United: Danny Mills (own goal) (14').
Play by play
- 92'
A real blood-and-thunder encounter at the Riverside. Fortune's deflected strike was decisive and United were denied a glorious second by a combination of Schwarzer's hand and the crossbar. But they stood firm after Fletcher's sending off, with Keane outstanding and Ferdinand showing how much he will be missed
- 92'
And that's it. United survive a torrid final quarter to take three points and establish a four-pont lead at the top ahead of Arsenal's visit to Southampton tomorrow night
- 92'
Zenden throws into the box. Maccarone wants a hand-ball but United can clear their lines
- 92'
Gary Neville finds Row Z under pressure from Downing. Last chance saloon for Boro
- 91'
Huge punt from Howard forces Boro back, eating up valuable seconds
- 90'
Ehiogu too is getting forward, hooking Maccarone's downward header wide of goal. Good effort from the returning centre-half. Two minutes to be added for stoppages
- 89'
Ferdinand clears up after a moment of hesitation from Howard before heading clear again from a Southgate cross
- 88'
Boro break down the right before Zenden has a swipe. Well blocked at the edge of the box
- 88'
Giggs corners Southgate, deep in Boro territory before conceding a freekick
- 87'
Ferdinand heads clear again - this time from Mendieta's cross and the frustrated Spaniard brings Phil Neville down. United hoof the freekick long to buy more time
- 86'
Down goes Keane under Zenden's challenge. United edging ever closer to victory
- 85'
Zenden wasteful again with a cross that Howard can take under no pressure
- 84'
United really under the cosh and Van Nistelrooy is withdrawn. On comes Nicky Butt, leaving Giggs as the lone man up front
- 83'
Punched clear by Howard and United breathe again as Zenden crosses wildly out of play. Goalkick
- 82'
Wrestlemania in the United box as Howard wraps his arms around Ricketts in collecting the ball. It's spilled away for a corner
- 82'
Respite for United as Giggs takes it up field. Keane and Scholes shift it before Gary Neville loses out. Boro break and Keane is back to concede the throw
- 81'
Ricketts climbs high at the far post but it's a poor header wide. That was perhaps Boro's best chance
- 81'
Boro press on through Downing and this time Phil Neville concedes the corner
- 80'
Ferdinand heads another Mendieta centre away
- 79'
This one comes out to Zenden. Keane closes in but Juninho takes it up to chip a shot over Howard's crossbar
- 78'
Keane heads clear at the near post but again Downing forces another corner off Neville G
- 77'
Van Nistelrooy offside from Gary Neville chipped ball into the box. This is turning into a real test of United's possession play. Downing forces a corner at the other end
- 76'
The intensity increasing as Fortune goes on a burst down the United left. Mills steps in
- 75'
Downing looks for Maccarone with a left-wing cross but Ferdinand is first to the header, the ball eventually finding it's way back to Howard
- 74'
At the far post, Ricketts climbs to head over the bar after superb work from Mendieta
Leaders
MIDMAN 
