BY David Walsh ( The Times )

IF THIS is how the festive season is to be, then let it commence. This was an absorbing match, full of cut and thrust, great goals and heroic defending. The kind of game that allows us to make extravagant claims for the Premiership and with the right result.

Boro came to Old Trafford with a 10-match unbeaten run and a lofty League position, but still without the respect that is surely now their due. They were very good yesterday, even without the suspended Paul Gascoigne, and will be even better for his return. Bryan Robson, their manager, can feel well pleased with his team's pre-Christmas campaign.

There will cold turkey for Manchester United after this. It took them too long to realise that Boro were dangerous, and by the time they did, they were two goals down. They chased the game as only they can, but were charging forward against a side that could counter-attack and so conceded the third goal that decided the match.

A family bereavement in Scotland meant Alex Ferguson was not at Old Trafford, and there was some interest in how United would play in his absence. Roy Keane seemed in the mood to set the right example as he bossed the early minutes. Boro did not panic, and like the thousands watching, they waited to see if the rest of the United players were going to take their lead from the captain.

Luckily for the visitors, they did not. The game soon settled into an engaging contest. Boro's spirit, organisation and the flair of Hamilton Ricard meant they were right in there, giving as good as they got. Their tackles went in early and everything United sent high into the penalty area, Boro's defenders cleared forcefully.

Returning to a ground where he once reigned, Gary Pallister did not look much different from the colossus who wore the red of United. Solid characters such as him do not age overnight. Steve Vickers was also on his game, and even though Andy Cole was a constant threat, Boro's Mark Schwarzer was not overworked in goal.

But Middlesbrough are not just organised and spirited. When they attack they threaten to score. Strikers Ricard and Brian Deane are tall men, but the Colombian is clever with his feet and changes pace with a subtlety you do not expect from one so big. Boro's opening goal was all about the strikers, even if Dean Gordon deserves credit for the pass that freed Deane inside the United penalty area. United will wonder who let Deane sneak inside because once there, they were in trouble. He pulled back the ball and Ricard rifled in his ninth League goal of the season.

That goal came in the 23rd minute, but it did not energise United as much as might have been expected. Boro have disappointed Robson by retreating into their half once they get a lead, and yesterday they were keen not to make that mistake.

Ricard, of course, was a bit of a help. He used his strength to beat Phil Neville on United's right flank, and two minutes later he cleverly outfoxed Gary Neville on the other wing, only to be pulled back by the United defender. Taking a short free kick from Colin Cooper, Andy Townsend floated a cross to the far post, United got it away but only to Gordon, who let fly on the volley. Usually one in 10 of such shots goes in. This was one of them.

No team scores two goals against United at Old Trafford without reprisals, and soon the home team were playing with the urgency with which they should have started. Ryan Giggs ghosted into the penalty area, Teddy Sheringham's cross picked him out, but the header flashed wide. Then Sheringham crept behind the defence, but Pallister blocked his route with a brave tackle.

United increased the pace even more during the second period, their urgency replaced by a near-frenzy, but Boro defended well. Not only that, but Ricard and Deane were still dangerous, and when Ronny Johnsen played a loose pass inside his own half in the 59th minute, Ricard wasted no time finding Deane, and Boro, remarkably, were three up.

Their fans chanted "We're going to win the League" and then sang Jingle Bells. United were playing to a different tune and swept forward in unrelenting waves. Two minutes after Deane's goal, David Beckham floored Ricard and was booked, but a minute later he found a productive outlet for his frustration when hooking a fine cross that Nicky Butt headed into the corner of the net. Butt was one of the United men not quite on his game, but that goal rejuvenated him and the team.

Paul Scholes replaced Beckham and scored almost immediately. Cole created the panic inside the area and when the ball fell loose, Scholes drove it in. United were now on the scent of a result and the last 20 minutes were fought deep inside Boro territory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Phil Neville and the crosses came high and fast, but Boro, with their backs to the wall, were magnificent. Townsend snapped at the heels of three United men in midfield before harrying Gary Neville into a mistake. In the trenches, Pallister was a giant.

The game could have had a terribly unjust conclusion when Schwarzer foolishly played a short pass to Pallister with Cole close by. United's striker sensed his chance, nicking the ball away and surging towards goal. Schwarzer advanced, Cole tried to beat him on his near side and the goalkeeper made a fine save. Neither he nor Pallister deserved to be denied three points in that way.

It really had been Boro's day. Pallister and Robson enjoyed a great day back in their old arena. More than that, they deserved their great day.

Man Utd: Schmeichel, P Neville (Solskjaer 78), Irwin, Johnsen, G. Neville, Butt, Beckham (Scholes 64), Keane, Giggs, Cole, Sheringham.
Booked: Beckham.
Goals: Butt 62, Scholes 70.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Gordon, Vickers, Festa, Pallister, Mustoe (Moore 72), Deane, Maddison (Beck 83), Townsend, Ricard, Cooper.
Booked: Festa.
Goals: Ricard 23, Gordon 31, Deane 59.

Attendance: 55,152.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).