McClaren backs United to haul in Gunners

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren inflicted more damage on Manchester United at Old Trafford today but insists his old club can still overhaul Arsenal in the Premiership title race.

Only a late Alan Smith header prevented McClaren from recording a league win over former boss Alex Ferguson for the fourth successive season but even the draw leaves United nine points adrift of the defending champions.

The Gunners visit Old Trafford in three weeks’ time, when United could be charged with preventing Arsene Wenger’s men making it 50 unbeaten.

But if they can achieve that, McClaren would not be surprised if they went on to reclaim the championship.

“Everyone gets a hiccup every now and again but to me, Manchester United are back to their best,” said McClaren.

“They will bounce back and I’m sure they will be thereabouts come the end of the season. Nine points is a lot when you are talking about a team like Arsenal but if United win their games against their rivals, you will soon start to see them catching up.”

McClaren also praised Wayne Rooney, even if the £27m (€39.1m) teenager was completed blotted out by Boro’s magnificent central defensive duo Gareth Southgate and Chris Riggott.

“Wayne Rooney is a superb player,” he said. “He can score at any level he wants. To stop people like him and Ruud van Nistelrooy you need to be organised, do everything correctly and have a bit of luck. We had all those things today.”

Considering they were without half a dozen senior men, including Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Ugo Ehiogu, Boro’s performance was remarkable.

Until Cristiano Ronaldo started to cause mayhem late on, the visitors also had the most potent teenager on view in James Morrison, whose last appearance on this ground was in the Youth Cup Final two years ago.

It was Morrison who exploited the space left by Gabriel Heinze on the United left to fizz over the cross that Stuart Downing smashed home to put Boro in front on the half hour mark.

Had Gaizka Mendieta kept his cool when presented with a clear chance in the second period instead of blazing over, the visitors would have won.

Instead, with Ronaldo weaving his magic, Southgate and Riggott eventually cracked, Smith succeeding where his more expensive striking colleagues failed by netting his sixth of the season.

“Alan did a fantastic job for us when he came on,” said Ferguson. “He brought a bit of zip to the proceedings and scored his goal, so I have to be pleased with that.

“I was disappointed we didn’t get more from the game when you consider how many times we got to the by-line and put crosses in but when you are 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go, you have to be satisfied with a point.”

All United’s players appeared to come through without a problem and should be available for their respective international sides at the weekend.

But Ferguson is already looking forward to getting the back in time to face Birmingham on October 16 and will then set his sights on catching Arsenal.

“Once this international break is over, we have a free run until March and that gives us plenty of time to start building,” he said.

“We can’t catch Arsenal overnight. We have to slowly accumulate the points we need. It is going to take time but we have plenty of that left.”