United title hopes under threat after loss to Boro

FT Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 1

Manchester United’s Premiership title hopes suffered a major setback at Old Trafford as Middlesbrough grabbed a deserved point.

Despite taking the lead after just three minutes through Kieran Richardson, United were unable to assert themselves on the game and Boro might even have won it after Mark Viduka had levelled with a superb diving header.

Chelsea can close the gap to a single point with a win at Newcastle tomorrow and a bad night for United was made even worse by the departure of Rio Ferdinand with a recurrence of a groin injury.

A impudent piece of skill from Solskjaer, who flicked the ball away from Schwarzer as he was about to punt clear then tapped into an empty net, only earned the Norwegian a yellow card.

Cattermole was booked for an aerial challenge on Heinze, when Ferguson clearly felt the Boro man had used an elbow.

Rooney came close to putting United back in front with a lob which dropped just the wrong side of the post.

Carrick flashed a shot over in the final minute with what proved to be the hosts’ last chance.