Manchester United v Middlesbrough

MANCHESTER UNITED v MIDDLESBROUGH - THE NEUTRAL PREVIEW
By Jonathan Turner of Bettingzone.co.uk

Second place isn't yet secure for United but they can take a big step towards it by claiming the three points here.

This is Boro's seventh game in the last two weeks - and the third in the space of five days - and that schedule is clearly going to take its toll.

With the UEFA Cup final their priority, manager Steve McClaren is sure to rest a host of first-team regulars again just as he did in the 1-0 home reverse against Everton on Saturday so it's no susprise they are available at as big as 12/1 to win this.

United had won nine out of 10 before their 3-0 defeat at champions Chelsea but their last home match saw them held to a goalless draw by basement club Sunderland and they've obviously also got to cope without Wayne Rooney for the rest of the season.

They've also got a surprisingly poor record against Boro - with McClaren masterminding five wins in the last 10 meetings against former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson, including a 4-1 thumping of the Red Devils at the Riverside earlier this season.

That all means that backing United at no better than 1/4 can hardly be termed buying money and we'll leave well alone.

Verdict: Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 0

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