Phil Neville's piledriver blasted champions Manchester United on to the road to victory at battling Middlesbrough and left Terry Venables' men facing an uncomfortable few weeks.

The England defender struck from 25 yards with just four minutes gone, but the points were not wrapped up until David Beckham's 84th-minute goal finally ended Boro's stubborn resistance.

United dominated for long periods but failed to make the most of their possession, but Boro never gave up and trudged off the pitch still incensed that a 69th-minute Ugo Ehiogu strike was ruled out for offside.

The visitors were reasonable value for their victory on an afternoon when they were without some of their big hitters, but Boro, spurred on by former United skipper Paul Ince and the tireless Dean Windass, played their part in an, at times, entertaining contest.

Middlesbrough made two changes to the side which won 3-0 at Leicester last weekend as Steve Vickers returned from injury in place of Dean Gordon and Phil Stamp replaced suspended midfielder Christian Karembeu.

Sir Alex Ferguson made radical alterations in the absence of outspoken skipper Roy Keane, Fabien Barthez, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Luke Chadwick, who was relegated to the bench.

Ferguson handed 20-year-old Michael Stewart a first start and Raimond van der Gouw, Ronny Johnsen, Nicky Butt and Quinton Fortune returned.

Boro went into the game knowing that a point could be good enough to book their place in next season's Premiership, and accordingly, they fielded no fewer than five central defenders in a starting 11 designed to keep chances to a minimum.

But that plan was blown out of the water within four minutes as Beckham, handed a free midfield role in the absence of Keane and Scholes, fed Neville on halfway and he raced unchallenged to within shooting distance of Mark Schwarzer's goal before ramming a 25-yard drive past the astonished Australian.

With Beckham threatening to turn in an exhibition performance in the middle of the park, the home side were rocking, and Teddy Sheringham could have effectively brought an end to the game just 15 minutes in, but he glanced his free header straight into the keeper's arms.

But Boro gradually forced their way into contention against the odds and Windass was unfortunate to see a 20-yard strike fly inches wide of Van der Gouw's right post on 25 minutes.

Hamilton Ricard sent a header just wide and Colin Cooper forced a diving save from Van der Gouw with a long-range effort, but the visitors almost extended their lead seven minutes before the break when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought the best out of Schwarzer with a low shot which was heading for the bottom corner.

However, it was the Teessiders who had the final say in the half when Windass fired in a dipping volley which Van der Gouw had to tip over to preserve his side's lead.

United emerged after the break to assume control once again, but they could not make the pressure count, and once Boro raised their tempo, the game looked far from over.

Schwarzer's most difficult save came from his own defender, Vickers, as he miskicked while trying to clear, although Solskjaer passed up a glorious chance to tie up the victory on 63 minutes.

However, as Boro built up a head of steam, it was they who looked the more likely to score, and indeed, they though they had after 69 minutes.

Butt was rather harshly penalised for a foul on Stamp on the edge of the box, and when Neville voiced his displeasure with the decision, referee Steve Lodge booked him and moved the ball to a spot just 11 yards from goal.

Van der Gouw got a good block on substitute Carlos Marinelli's strike, but when the ball fell to Gavin, he hammered in a long range effort which came back off the post and was walked home by Ugo Ehiogu.

However, an offside flag brought a premature halt to the celebrations and left the Teessiders licking their wounds.

To their credit, they continued to drive forward and Ehiogu looped a header over from Marinelli's 78th-minute corner.

United's concern was evident as Ferguson introduced Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole for an uncomfortable last few minutes, and it was the Welshman who carved out the opening for Beckham to cement the win six minutes from time with a low shot.

Teams

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Gavin, Cooper (Gordon 85), Ehiogu, Vickers, Okon, Stamp (Marinelli 67), Ince, Windass, Boksic, Ricard (Mustoe 85).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Deane.

Booked: Gavin, Okon.

Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, Phil Neville, Stam, Johnsen, Brown, Beckham, Butt, Stewart (Chadwick 85), Fortune (Giggs 72), Sheringham, Solskjaer (Cole 74).

Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Yorke.

Booked: Beckham, Stewart, Phil Neville.

Goals: Phil Neville 4, Beckham 84.

Att: 34,417

Ref: S Lodge (Barnsley).