United Continue Title Chase

By David Hobbs
January 1 2005

Birthday-Boy Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't have wished for a better Birthday present as Ryan Giggs netted his 3rd goal in as many games as The Red Devils cruised to a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Darren Fletcher opened the scoring just 9 minutes in.

United Continue Title Chase

Middlesbrough 0


Manchester United 2
Fletcher 9
Giggs 79

Birthday-Boy Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't have wished for a better Birthday present as Ryan Giggs netted his 3rd goal in as many games as The Red Devils cruised to a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside. 

Ferguson's side's New Year's Resolution is to keep up their terrific form they started off with in 2004 into 2005 and certainly kept the vow on Day 1 of the New Year.

Darren Fletcher bagged his first goal of the season within 10 minutes of the kick-off to mark United's territory on the game. Ryan Giggs doubled the advantage late into the second period.

Fellow title-chasers Everton however slipped up to the hands of Spurs, slumping to a 5-2 defeat. Chelsea meanwhile left it late to beating Liverpool courtesy of super-sub Joe Cole's strike and Arsenal ended Charlton's streak by beating Alan Curbishley's side 3-1.

Victims of the Carrington flu virus Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville were both deemed unfit to play by Ferguson and started on the bench along with youngster Jonathan Spector. Alan Smith was used as a lone-striker due as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and Wayne Rooney were all out with injuries and suspension respectively.

As United started the early attack, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs both had shots denied by a defensive Boro. However, Darren Fletcher showed the duo how to strike by finishing Ryan Giggs' work down the wing just 9 minutes into the game.

Probable England team-mates Stewart Downing and Alan Smith both had attempts blocked by their opposing goalkeeper midway into the half as the game proved to be pretty end-to-end.

United looked more comfortable on the ball after the break but could still feel the pressure being applied by Steve McClaren's side.

Cristiano Ronaldo terrorized both flanks and Ray Parlour had enough. The former Arsenal midfielder picked up a booking by referee Alan Wiley for a nasty foul on the Portuguese winger.

Ryan Giggs added to Fletcher's first-half strike with 12 minutes to go, striking from inside the box well past goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer.

Arsenal are now just 4 points within United's grasp after catching up with Everton, who loom 3 points below. Nine points separate Untied from leaders Chelsea.

Final Score: Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Manchester United
Att: 34,199

Middlesbrough: M Schwarzer, M Reiziger, G Southgate, C Cooper, F Queudrue, R Parlour, G Doriva (78 J Morrison) , B Zenden, S Downing, J Hasselbaink, J Job (45 S Nemeth). Unused Subs: C Nash, A Davies, A McMahon

Manchester United: R Carroll, P Neville, R Ferdinand, M Silvestre, G Heinze, C Ronaldo (78 E Djemba-Djemba) , D Fletcher, P Scholes, R Keane, R Giggs (83 D Bellion) , A Smith. Unused Subs: T Howard, G Neville, J Spector

Refereed By: A Wiley