PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"A great game from Utd with six of the best. The highlight shared between Yorke's first hat-trick for Utd and Stam notching his first for the club."

MATCH REPORT

By David Anderson, PA Sport

On the ground where they won the title in 1996, Manchester United have taken a huge step towards lifting the 1999 Premiership crown. United have wrested the initiative back from Arsenal and have returned to the top of the league with just two games remaining.

Alex Ferguson's Treble-chasers lead the champions on goals scored and would appear to have the easier finish. United face Brian Kidd's hapless Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday, which should provide them with the chance to improve their goal difference, before they face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.

By contrast Arsenal face a testing trip to Leeds on Tuesday before they complete their campaign against Aston Villa at Highbury. Boro boss Bryan Robson had hoped to be the second United old boy after Paul Ince on Wednesday to throw a spanner into the Reds' championship charge.

The Teessiders had reason to be optimistic and they had only lost two league games at the Riverside Stadium before Sunday, while they were the last team to beat United 28 games ago at Old Trafford. But they could not stand in the way of United who deserved to win by more than just Dwight Yorke's 29th goal of the season.

The game spluttered briefly into life after 15 minutes when Teddy Sheringham, recalled in place of Andy Cole, knocked the ball home after Mark Schwarzer had spilled Roy Keane's shot. Sheringham's celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee, who was signalling for offside even though the former Tottenham striker had appeared to be onside.

Yorke then directed a header just over from David Beckham's cross as United began to look menacing. They could not maintain this momentum and on 25 minutes they were forced to re-organise in midfield when Keane was replaced by Nicky Butt after the Irishman had been clattered by Mark Summerbell in the fifth minute.

Middlesbrough went close to an opener when Brian Deane knocked on Andy Townsend's free-kick to Summerbell, whose shot grazed the post.

Dean Gordon then fluffed a good chance at the back post before Deane scuffed his shot after he had been found by Gordon. United stepped up the pressure towards half-time and Schwarzer saved from Beckham after the impressive Jesper Blomqvist had found him unmarked at the back post.

Then a minute into stoppage time United made the breakthrough. Butt played the ball into Sheringham, who nodded it across goal for Yorke to head home from close range.

The furious Boro players felt Sheringham was offside and protested to referee Graham Barber, who booked Townsend for dissent.

United almost had a second six minutes after the interval when Schwarzer parried Sheringham's flick and David May, who was playing in place of Ronny Johnsen, could not finish from the loose ball. Schwarzer was fumbling everything and he spilled a drive from Paul Scholes, but fortunately for Boro no United player was following in.

Boro, who swapped Steve Baker for Robbie Stockdale at half-time, pressed for an equaliser and Gordon wasted a glorious chance when he failed to connect properly with Townsend's cross.

At the other end, Schwarzer continued to cause palpitations among the home fans with his goalkeeping and he dived on a Gary Neville shot after he had failed to hold it first time. The game was opening up after a largely disappointing first half and Butt fired over before May made a great tackle on the twisting and turning Hamilton Ricard in the United area.

United increased their firepower when with just over a quarter of the match remaining they brought Cole on for Blomqvist and pushed Yorke out to the left. Yorke was determined not to be sidelined from the action and he cut in from his left flank to force a decent save from Schwarzer at the expense of a corner.

United could and should have had a second and Cole kicked an advertising board in frustration after his lob beat Schwarzer but not the crossbar.

The Boro fans' sense of injustice was heightened when in their opinion May got away with a foul on substitute Andy Campbell as he ran through on goal.

Barber did not agree and after the events at Anfield in midweek that is one refereeing decision Ferguson will agree with.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Manchester United climbed back to the top of the Premiership with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough and then set their sights on four more victories to complete an historic Treble. Assistant boss Steve McLaren, standing in for Alex Ferguson at the post-match news conference, said the belief within the camp is that they can win their two remaining league games and perform a cup final double to bring three major trophies to Old Trafford.

Dwight Yorke's first-half header clinched all three points at the Riverside Stadium to ensure a grandstand finish to the season.

McLaren said: "It's always nice to be up there and nice to be top.

"I believe if we win the next two games we'll win the title.

"The players are counting down now. We've got four games to go this season. With the belief within the squad - the way they're playing at the moment, the way they're playing for each other, the way they're working together - we are well capable of winning all four."

United's triumph on Teesside came as they dominated possession but chances were few and far between.

"We came here really to do two jobs - one was to win the game and the other was to score goals," said McLaren. "I think we controlled the game from the beginning, played some excellent football and worked very hard. It's job done really. We got the win and we're back on top."

But United's joy at the victory was tempered by the loss of skipper Roy Keane with an ankle injury he picked up just five minutes into the game. The club now face an anxious 24 hours before the extent of the damage can be assessed.

Middlesbrough number two Viv Anderson was pleased with the way the youngsters in his side competed with their more illustrious opponents and forecast that the title race will go right down to the wire.

"I've said all along the three away games at this stage of the season are going to be a real tester for United," he said. "They've got a result here and they drew at Liverpool and now they go against Blackburn. It's going to go right down to the wire but I wouldn't like to say which way."

The Boro supporters felt Yorke's goal should have been chalked off for offside - and television replays suggested that they had a case. But their disappointment was eased by the knowledge that a Teddy Sheringham, which was disallowed, should have stood.

"I haven't seen it," said Anderson. "My first initial thought was that it was offside, but I've not seen it on the television so I can't really comment. He knocked it a fair distance and we work on them pushing out so my first thoughts were that it was offside, but somebody would have to tell me differently."

TEAMS

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Gavin, Pallister, Vickers, Gordon, Mustoe, Summerbell, Townsend, Ricard, Deane.
Subs: Campbell for Gavin

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Irwin, May, Stam, Beckham, Scholes, Keane, Blomqvist, Sheringham, Yorke.
Subs: Butt for Keane, Cole for Blomqvist, P Neville for Scholes
Scorers: Yorke (45)

Referee: G Barber