United step closer to title with Middlesbrough win

Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 2. Manchester United took a another step towards the Premier League title with a workmanlike win over relegation threatened Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

The newly crowned PFA player of the year, 35-year-old Ryan Giggs, was given a rare start as Sir Alex Ferguson chose to rest several of his big names before the Champions League semi-final with Arsenal on Tuesday.

But the decision paid off as skipper Giggs dusted off his trusty left foot and drove home from 18 yards after 25 minutes.

United's second came early in the second half when Giggs combined with a team mate half his age in Federico Macheda, who was making his first Premier League start after making a name for himself as an impact sub. The pair set up Wayne Rooney, who in turn fed Ji-Sung Park and he fired past Brad Jones.

Another veteran, Paul Scholes wasted a clear cut chance when it was 1-0, but United were rarely troubled by the home side, with Jonny Evans and Nemanja Vidic solid at the back. It was Boro's biggest crowd of the season but they would not have been impressed by what they saw.

While the result eases United towards the title, it leaves Middlesbrough staring into the abyss. Manager Gareth Southgate could not have been expecting to get much change out of United, but yet another defeat - their 18th of the season - means his side are now three points adrift of safety and have just three fixtures remaining to save their season.

Boro's visit to fellow strugglers Newcastle on Monday week is now absolutely crucial and could condemn the loser to the drop.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYINGPaul Wilson in the Observer: "Ryan Giggs no longer starts enough games to be an obvious choice for PFA player of the year, but as Sir Alex ­Ferguson has just said, you won't find many professional footballers who begrudge him the honour. Manchester United's captain for the day could easily win next year's award at this rate. Only the fact that he will not be allowed to play Middlesbrough every week appears to be preventing him ending up like a more decorated version of Sir Stanley Matthews."

Jonathan Northcroft in the Sunday Times: "There was no turbulence, no bravura comeback and there were no heroics from Federico Macheda, who looked just a boy rather than a boy wonder when asked to start rather than come off the bench. But, for Manchester United, there were three more points and Ryan Giggs, their man of the match, can contemplate a quite ridiculous 11th Premier League winners' medal. Even sweeter, perhaps, winning the title would equal Liverpool’s record 18 English championships. " ·