Fergie happy to whittle away

Alex Ferguson believes his side are closing in on yet another Barclays Premier League title after a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Goals from Ryan Giggs and Ji-Sung Park kept Liverpool at arm’s length as United stayed out in front at the top of the table.

“It’s a big step forward,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “I just keep saying that if you whittle the games away, eventually there are no games left, and hopefully we will still be at the top of the table when we get to that point.

“It was a very good performance. They all worked their socks off and once we got a hold of the ball, we always looked a danger.”

Boro now face a trip to face local rivals and fellow strugglers Newcastle next week in what is likely to be one of the most tense games of the season.

“We have to go to Newcastle now and deal with the atmosphere there,” said boss Gareth Southgate. “For us in some respects, it is possibly the last throw of the dice because we need the momentum. The reality is that we have to go to Newcastle and win.”