Van Nistelrooy penalty enough to see United home

Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 0

The Dutchman fired in his first league goal of the campaign after Ugo Ehiogu had tugged him back in the box to give United the edge after a closely-fought opening period.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson sprang a major surprise by naming Fabien Barthez, Paul Scholes and Mikael Silvestre.

Neither Barthez nor Scholes was expected to be fit for another week after recent hip and ankle problems respectively, while Silvestre had been given little chance of making the game after suffering a neck injury against Sunderland on Saturday.

With Nicky Butt back as well after missing two games with a toe injury, it meant United were at full strength apart from missing skipper Roy Keane and Gary Neville, yet to fully recover from the broken foot he suffered at the end of last season.

Like United, Middlesbrough have gleaned five points from an unbeaten start to the new campaign and arrived at Old Trafford buoyed by two victories over the Red Devils last season, including an Alen Boksic-inspired league win in the corresponding fixture.

Watching on from the stands, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson would no doubt offer a wry smile at Scholes’ appearance, having omitted the midfielder from the England squad to face Portugal on Saturday due to his apparent injury problems.

Barthez did well to block Joseph Desire Job’s close range effort after the Cameroon international had left Butt for dead with a neat turn then run onto Massimo Maccarone’s return pass.

United were having plenty of possession but the visitors were looking more incisive, Butt lofting an intended pass straight into the arms of Schwarzer as Boro held their line on the edge of the area.

At the other end, Rio Ferdinand, making his home league debut, shoved Maccarone off the ball and strolled away in the style of England’s most expensive player.

Giggs came closest to breaking the deadlock after 25 minutes with a typical driving run at Ugo Ehiogu which ended with his shot flashing wide.

United did not have long to wait for their goal though. Van Nistelrooy appeared to have wasted a golden opportunity when he raced onto Giggs’ delicate chip into the box but hoofed his volley over.

However, referee Mike Riley had spotted Ehiogu tugging the Dutchman back and had no hesitation in awarding the spot-kick.

Under the circumstances, Ehiogu was very fortunate just to see a yellow card brandished in his face, returning to his station to see van Nistelrooy crash the penalty into the roof of the net.

The hitherto muted home support responded by saluting their absent captain, who despite the transgressions, controversies and stupidity, remains a hero in their eyes.

Southgate did well to intervene as van Nistelrooy set himself for a close range volley after Giggs had provided another neat chip into the area, and on the touchline, McClaren was becoming more agitated at his team’s inability to keep possession.

Job blazed over from another Maccarone return pass before Robbie Stockdale almost equalised with a wicked curling cross from the right which seemed to catch Barthez unaware.

In a footballing equivalent of chess, the crowd was struggling to maintain concentration, although the visiting supporters came to life when Diego Forlan began his usual warm-up on the touchline.

The Uruguayan, yet to open his United account, famously changed his mind about joining Boro when the Old Trafford outfit made contact as he was about to board a plane for Teesside.

A game of push and shove in the United box ended with Maccarone blazing wide from 10 yards when a little more composure was called for.

MAN UTD: Barthez, Phil Neville, Silvestre, Blanc, Ferdinand, Beckham, Veron, Butt, Giggs, Scholes, van Nistelrooy.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Ehiogu, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue, Boateng, Geremi, Greening, Job, Maccarone.