Source: Telegraph
Manchester United close in on title as Middlesbrough's relegation woes deepen
'It couldn't have been any better really,' Giggs said. The 800th game, winning the award and then scoring.' [LNB]He will surely be celebrating his 11th Premier League title by the end of the month. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionTelegraph player raterSport on TVMiddlesbrough can spring surprise over Manchester United, says Gary PallisterPicking Manuel Almunia in goal for England is an affront to David James and CoDespite making seven changes to the side that contested the Champions League semi-final last week, United won this with ease. [LNB]Park Ji-Sung added a second in the second half and it could have been many more as United cut a flagging Middlesbrough apart. Gareth Southgate might not have been expecting a result here but this was a downright submissive performance at times. [LNB]Boro did, though, start with a semblance of motivation and Jeremie Aliadiere came close to giving Boro a surprise lead with 22 minutes played, Ben Foster's boot blocking the path to goal. [LNB]But three minutes later they were behind and, with their biggest crowd of the season subdued, swiftly regressed into timidity. [LNB]Gareth Southgate must demand far higher levels of desire, even aggression, in their crucial visit to Newcastle next week because this looked like a side resigned to the drop. [LNB]'It is similar to our game here with Hull - not only do you desperately need the points but you need to stop them too,' Southgate said. [LNB]'If you judge my side on this performance I don't think any of my boys would get into their team. That's the gulf in class. It is difficult to lift the team at half time when they are 1-0 down against the world champions, knowing that they can cut you apart at any moment. [LNB]"But we're not playing the world champions in the next three games - these are all games we are capable of winning.' [LNB]That gulf yawned open as soon as United went ahead. Rooney had been operating with impunity on the left, Tony McMahon struggling to contain his pace and power, and the England striker was not sufficient pressured when he picked up a clearance from a corner. [LNB]He passed across the face of the box to Nemanja Vidic and the Serb centre-half delicately played it back across to the edge of the 'D'. [LNB]Matthew Bates challenged Federico Macheda and the ball ran through to Giggs, who shot crisply into the bottom-right corner. [LNB]The second goal, early in the second half, was preceded by superb build-up play, as United patiently built down the left flank. [LNB]Giggs was again at the heart of it, exchanging a one-two with Macheda before passing to Rooney. The United striker was cutting across the field from the left but played an audacious reverse pass - judged with the precision of snooker shot - for Park, who was crossing in the other direction, behind Roberth Huth. [LNB]The ball slowed up perfectly and the Korean finished first-time, left-footed across Brad Jones. [LNB]Giggs might have had a great week but it hasn't been a bad one for Park, who had earlier agreed to sign a new four-year deal at Old Trafford. [LNB]It could have been a far more emphatic scoreline. Paul Scholes had two great chances just before half-time, from the kind of range he usually relishes. [LNB]Macheda struggled to live up to his recent heroic cameos - he missed one great chance from a Rooney cut-back - and when he was replaced by Carlos Tevez, 10 minutes into the second half, United attacked with renewed vigour. [LNB]John O'Shea, the midweek goal hero, almost scored again, his shot blocked after another fluid United counterattack. [LNB]The ease with which victory was secured will have satisfied Ferguson ahead of the impending second leg against Arsenal. [LNB]He was afforded the luxury of leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench and Edwin van der Sar was left out completely. [LNB]Yet in the context of that impending game it was remarkable to watch Rooney playing as if this was the final itself: he was rampant on the left flank but he also ran harder than anyone to cover his defence. When he collects his title medal, no player will deserve it more. [LNB]
