Title hopes in the balance after 1-1 draw with `boro

United had got off to a perfect start when Kieran Richardson tapped the ball into the net after Wayne Rooney had broken clear and rounded Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. That was after just 3 minutes, and most of us would have assumed a win was going to be comfortable. No, not to be....

Rio Ferdinand suffered a groin strain just before half time, and was clearly unable to move with any freedom. A cross came over and Ferdinand had to just watch it sail past him over his head. Wes Brown was unable to deal with it and Mark Viduka headed past the United goalkeeper.

A game to forget, United were never at their very best. In all honesty a draw was more than a fair result. In fact Middlesbrough might feel hard done by judging by the number of chances they had compared to United`s efforts.