Manchester United (h)

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Middlesbrough entertain champions and league leaders Manchester United in this Sunday afternoon clash.

United travel to Teesside on the back of six straight league wins, having conceded just once in that time.

Middlesbrough have picked up just five points in that time, and have scored just five goals.

United took a step closer to Champions’ League success in midweek, with a comfortable 2-0 away win over AS Roma.

Boro, meanwhile, have not been in action since their unlucky 1-0 defeat at title challengers Chelsea last Sunday.

Vital Quotes:

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has urged his players to have faith, and take the game to the champions tomorrow afternoon.

“Recently we have shown that we can compete against the top teams in the country,” he said.

“We’ve got to attack the game in a way that puts them on the back foot. We know what they’re capable of but we don’t have an inferiority complex.”

“We’ve got to try to hurt them because if we just sit back they will still create chances,” he added.

Meanwhile, opposite number Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted the injury sustained by Nemanja Vidic in Rome on Tuesday evening is a blow to his side.

“Of course he is a loss but I think we can cope,” said Fergie.

“If we cannot, there is something wrong. We are very well covered in his position.”

“I thought Rio [Ferdinand] was particularly impressive in the second half against Roma. He also has the pace to deal with players who try to get beyond him,” he finished.

Middlesbrough Team News:

Middlesbrough will be without Egyptian striker Mido for the rest of the season, after the star underwent a hernia operation last week.

Robert Huth is also deemed as a doubt for Gareth Southgate’s men, with a persistent foot injury causing him problems.

Emmanuel Pogatetz would be expected to remain at centre-back in the event of the German’s absence, with Andrew Taylor at left-back.

Fabio Rochemback is available for selection after serving the second of his two-match suspension at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Afonso Alves’ bright cameo role at Chelsea last week means that the Brazilian is pushing hard for a starting place, although Southgate is believed to be unwilling to shift too way away from the starting eleven that caused Chelsea so many problems last time out.

Expected Line-Up: Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor, O’Neil, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Aliadiere, Tuncay

Player to watch: Jeremie Aliadiere

In the absence of the injured Nemanja Vidic at the heart of the visitors’ defence, an opportunity arises for the Frenchman to really get at the United rear-guard.

The striker’s pace may be matched by Rio Ferdinand, however focusing on running at his central defensive partner, expected to be either Wes Brown or John O’Shea, could be key in Boro’s search for glory.

Manchester Utd Team News:

After injuring his knee in the 2-0 victory in Rome, Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for 2-3 weeks, meaning he will miss his side’s trip to Teesside.

Sir Alex Ferguson is debating whether to shift Wes Brown from right-back to cover for the Serb, or whether to bring in utility man John O’Shea.

Elsewhere, Darren Fletcher remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Nani is also missing with a thigh problem, although United have no injuries to key men to report.

Gary Neville, United’s skipper, is also in contention to travel with the squad to Teesside, and may find himself with a place on the bench after a long injury lay-off.

Player to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo

The best player in the world right now will be gracing the turf at The Riverside tomorrow afternoon.

The home supporters won’t be too hasty to forget one of the Portuguese winger’s famous moments on Teesside, however, when he famously threw himself to the floor in an Oscar-winning performance to earn his side a penalty kick.

Since then, the winker has improved beyond all recognition, with 26 goals in 28 matches this season for United.

Match Facts & Stats

The hosts are searching for their 100th all-time Premier League home win on Sunday, although will be hard-pushed to find against in-form United.

United have won three times the league games that Boro have this season, scoring 40 more goals in the process.

This will be the 100th league meeting between the sides, with the Red Devils searching for their 50th win.

Boro have not won by more than a single goal since the beginning of September in the league.

Their current points tally, 34 points from 32 played, is their lowest at this stage for seven seasons.

Officially, Boro are the “dirtiest” league side, with more bookings (75) than anyone else.

Boro have scored 18 of their 28 league goals this season in the first half. At a ratio of 64%, that is a league high.

United have lost one in eleven in all competitions, and have won 10 of their last twelve in the league.

They haven’t conceded a league goal in 461 minutes, just over seven-and-a-half hours of football.

They’ve scored sixteen goals in the last ten minutes of games, more than any other club.

If started, Gary Neville could make his 350th Premier League start for United.

Over the past two season, Manchester United have won every time they have fielded midfielder Park Ji-Sung from the start.

Ref Watch:

Mike Riley is taking charge of this Sunday afternoon clash. In 22 league matches this season, the ref has handed out 79 bookings and one red card, with a ratio of 3.63 bookings a game.

Match Prediction:

With United in the form of their lives right now, it will take a Herculean effort from the Boro to take anything out of this game. However, I reckon the boys might just provide a shock (if a draw against the champions can be considered a shock).

Step Forward Goliath.

Vital Middlesbrough Predicts: Boro 1-1 United

Next Fixtures:

Saturday 12th April – Tottenham Hotspur (A) – Premier League