Manchester United clashed against Gareth Southgates’ Middlesbrough on Monday evening in what was their 18th Premiership match of the season. The Reds were 10 points off the leaders Liverpool going into the game, with three more games in hand though.

After securing a crucial win away to Stoke City three days earlier, the Champions of England became favorite once again to clinch this year’s EPL title.
While Middlesbrough were desperate to end their miserable spell of 7 matches without a win, Manchester United were determined to keep their hopes of winning the Premiership alive.

How the game unfolded

With Patrice Evra serving his controversial four match ban and skipper Rio Ferdinand sidelined with a back injury, youngsters Johnny Evans and Rafael Da Silva were given the chance to play in replacement.

Both sides started on a good note but Manchester United had the better of the possession.
Rooney’s aggressive performance was eye-catching; the Fifa World Club Cup Player of the tournament was at the centre of United’s numerous attacks.
Once again, creating chances wasn’t Manchester’s problem. However, converting them into goals remained the issue. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a handful of opportunities to put his side in front, but he also came very close at times to break the deadlock through a number of well-taking free-kicks.

A question of justice

Boro’s keeper was outstanding in his post, making several saves to rescue his team – one of which was an impressive punch to tip Rooney’s hot ball over the crossbar.
So 0-0 was the scoreline at the end of the 45 minutes, but would it have been the case if the referee had performed a lot better?

Manchester United were denied a clear penalty after Middlesbrough’s O’Neil handled the ball inside the area at the 42nd minute. Ronaldo’s complaint was even more obvious some moments later; the visitors’ skipper Pogatetz was spotted by cameras crushing Ronaldo down to the ground to prevent his side from conceding a goal out the corner.
The so-called ‘bad boy’ had some words to say to the referees at half time, and as it looked that nothing really would be done, Ronaldo went to Pogatetz to make his points. An argument broke out all the way down to the tunnel.

In the second period, Boro’s Bates harshly fouled Wayne Rooney on the edge of the penalty area; one more time, the Middlesbrough player went away unpunished and Manchester United were denied a clear free-kick.

A wasteful but lucky United

Manchester United created at least 25 chances in the whole of the game but could only score a single goal to clinch all three points.

Turkish international Tuncay came inches away to give the visitor a shocking lead one minute after the hour mark with a powerful header that went just wide.

Manchester United understood the alert and did not wait to respond by pressuring their opponents with attacks. Ji Sung Park’s fired a long range effort only to see his shot punched away by Boro’s outstanding keeper. United had to wait four more minutes to find the breakthrough when Berbatov volleyed in a shot from inside the box to inscribe his side’s only goal on 69 minutes.

Park again then missed a wonderful opportunity to double Manchester United’s lead three minutes later as he awfully drove the ball over the bar from close range.

Ronaldo then had to come off at the 84th minute after being the subject of reckless tackles on a frustrating night for him. Middlesbrough seemed completely broken since Berbatov’s super goal but in the dying minutes of the game, it looked like they could turn the fortunes around.

Manchester United hanged on well though, saving themselves from the horror of conceding a late goal out of a Boro corner.

Manchester United have closed the gap to 7 points now against Liverpool. They’ll face an intriguing task on January 11th at Old Trafford against second placed Chelsea.

Written by: Angela Asante