On the ground where they won the title in 1996, Manchester United kept alive their hopes of lifting the 1999 Premiership crown.
They wrested the initiative back from Arsenal and returned to the
top of the league with just two games remaining.
Alex Ferguson's Treble-chasers lead the champions on goals scored and would
appear to have the easier finish.
United face Brian Kidd's hapless Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday, which
should provide them with the chance to improve their goal difference, before
they face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
By contrast Arsenal face a testing trip to Leeds on Tuesday before they
complete their campaign against Aston Villa at Highbury.
Boro boss Bryan Robson had hoped to be the second United old boy after Paul
Ince on Wednesday to throw a spanner into the Reds' championship charge.
The Teessiders had reason to be optimistic and they had only lost two league
games at the Riverside Stadium before Sunday, while they were the last team to
beat United 28 games ago at Old Trafford.
But they could not stand in the way of United who deserved to win by more than
just Dwight Yorke's 29th goal of the season.
The game spluttered briefly into life after 15 minutes when Teddy Sheringham,
recalled in place of Andy Cole, knocked the ball home after Mark Schwarzer had
spilled Roy Keane's shot.
Sheringham's celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee, who was
signalling for offside even though the former Tottenham striker had appeared to
be onside.
Yorke then directed a header just over from David Beckham's cross as United
began to look menacing.
They could not maintain this momentum and on 25 minutes they were forced to
re-organise in midfield when Keane was replaced by Nicky Butt after the Irishman
had been clattered by Mark Summerbell in the fifth minute.
Middlesbrough went close to an opener when Brian Deane knocked on Andy
Townsend's free-kick to Summerbell, whose shot grazed the post.
Dean Gordon then fluffed a good chance at the back post before Deane scuffed
his shot after he had been found by Gordon.
United stepped up the pressure towards half-time and Schwarzer saved from
Beckham after the impressive Jesper Blomqvist had found him unmarked at the back
post.
Then a minute into stoppage time United made the breakthrough.
Butt played the ball into Sheringham, who nodded it across goal for Yorke to
head home from close range.
The furious Boro players felt Sheringham was offside and protested to referee
Graham Barber, who booked Townsend for dissent.
United almost had a second six minutes after the interval when Schwarzer
parried Sheringham's flick and David May, who was playing in place of Ronny
Johnsen, could not finish from the loose ball.
Schwarzer was fumbling everything and he spilled a drive from Paul Scholes,
but fortunately for Boro no United player was following in.
Boro, who swapped Steve Baker for Robbie Stockdale at half-time, pressed for
an equaliser and Gordon wasted a glorious chance when he failed to connect
properly with Townsend's cross.
At the other end, Schwarzer continued to cause palpitations among the home
fans with his goalkeeping and he dived on a Gary Neville shot after he had
failed to hold it first time.
The game was opening up after a largely disappointing first half and Butt
fired over before May made a great tackle on the twisting and turning Hamilton
Ricard in the United area.
United increased their firepower when with just over a quarter of the match
remaining they brought Cole on for Blomqvist and pushed Yorke out to the left.
Yorke was determined not to be sidelined from the action and he cut in from
his left flank to force a decent save from Schwarzer at the expense of a
corner.
United could and should have had a second and Cole kicked an advertising board
in frustration after his lob beat Schwarzer but not the crossbar.
The Boro fans' sense of injustice was heightened when in their opinion May got
away with a foul on substitute Andy Campbell as he ran through on goal.
Barber did not agree and after the events at Anfield in midweek that is one
refereeing decision Ferguson will agree with.
Teams
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Stockdale (Baker 45), Vickers,
Gavin (Campbell 72), Pallister, Gordon, Mustoe, Summerbell,
Townsend, Ricard, Deane.
Subs Not Used: Beresford, Maddison, Armstrong.
Booked: Townsend, Mustoe, Campbell.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, May, Stam, Irwin, Beckham,
Keane (Butt 25), Scholes (P. Neville 90), Blomqvist (Cole 66),Yorke, Sheringham.
Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Brown.
Booked: Scholes, Sheringham, G. Neville.
Goals: Yorke 45.
Att: 34,665
Ref: G Barber (Pyrford).
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