United cruise Tees up another title

THE platitudes from Ryan Giggs must have been somewhat embarrassing for Middlesbrough, who after succumbing meekly to Arsenal and Manchester United in the space of six days can safely consign their reputation as top four assassins to the past.

“It’s always a big test when you come here because we’ve come unstuck quite a few times,’’ Giggs said after ending Boro resistance as early as the 25th minute with a low left footed strike from the edge of the area. “We didn’t feel as though we were in complete control.’’

The view from the stands suggested a starkly different reality, especially when Park Ji-Sung doubled the advantage with an angled left-foot drive soon after the interval.

At this rate, the only ‘big four’ Middlesbrough will be bothering next season are the three unsuccessful clubs in the Championship play-offs and West Brom, who look certain to accompany them out of the Premier League later this month.

Carlos Tevez was nearer the mark in his reflections after a fifth consecutive league victory further diminished Liverpool and Chelsea’s slim hopes of catching the Premier League leaders.

“We know the games will get tougher as the season goes on,’’ he said. “When players line up against Manchester United they put their lives on the line, they put absolutely everything into trying to beat us.’’

There appeared to be little such risk-taking from those clad in red, who were more concerned with damage limitation after Jeremie Aliadiere, a forward with an unfortunate knack of being unable to score goals, wasted the hosts’ clearest chance when he fired at the feet of Ben Foster with the deadlock still unbroken and the atmosphere raucous.

Neither lasted for much longer.

Back-to-back defeats for United at the end of March have long since been consigned to memory.

With a quadruple of trophies remaining on the horizon this season, no wonder Wayne Rooney, still only 23, has signalled his desire to remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of his career after indicating he is happy to sign an extension to a contract which still has three years to run.

Arsenal, United’s Champions League semi- final opponents on Tuesday, however, will be no doubt heartened to learn that the forward, the best player on the field along with Giggs and Paul Scholes, confessed to being ‘too tired’ to grant interview requests as he headed wearily for the team bus after the game.

“We had a difficult period, losing to Liverpool and Fulham but in a way that dip in form was almost a positive thing,’’ Tevez added.

“It gave us an opportunity to face up to the problem and tackle it head-on. You need these challenges because they help you realise just how tough you are and often bring out your best.’’

Their best simply wasn’t needed at the Riverside, where despite Alex Ferguson’s seven changes, they never looked under threat of the upset several informed observers had predicted at a ground where they have struggled in the past.

“They are just a great side, end of story,’’ Justin Hoyte, the Middlesbrough defender, admitted.

“They kept their foot on the gas and that’s why they’re European champions but we came away from the game with positives as well.’’

What those were, it was difficult to tell.

Certainly not the ending of the hosts’ four month unbeaten home record, nor the fact that they have won just two of their last 23 league games or that even victories in their remaining three matches might not be enough to secure survival.

Gareth Southgate isn’t yet resigned to relegation, but he appears to be contemplating the idea of football at a lower level.

“Of course if we don’t stay in this division it’ll have a huge financial implication,’’ he said.

“But I’m not sure where staying in the league would leave us financially anyway.

“It’s the last throw of the dice,” conceded the Middlesbrough manager, whose side travel to Newcastle next Monday.

Considering how inept the north-east’s three top flight teams have proved this season, the smart money is on St James’ Park witnessing a draw that would go a long way to condemning both clubs to the drop.

Southgate added: “We’ll find out a lot about the players, because we have to go to there and win.’’

Middlesbrough’s most recent away league victory arrived at Aston Villa in November, and they have lost their last 10 on the road so if the Championship is to be avoided, it would appear those dice will need to be somewhat heavily loaded.

REFEREE: Mark Halsey (Lancashire) 6: Some perplexing early decisions but little of a controversial nature to concern the man in black in such a one-sided affair.

MATCH RATING: ** The result was not in doubt once Giggs broke the deadlock and from that point it was more a matter of whether United could boost their goal difference or Boro limit the damage to theirs.