Soccer: Middlesbrough - 0 Man Utd - 1 On the ground where Manchester United stumbled, apparently fatally, last Christmas, only to go the remainder of the season unbeaten and claim their eighth Premiership title, Alex Ferguson's players yesterday took a healthy, assured step towards a ninth championship in 12 years.

United, via the unlikely figure of Quinton Fortune, became the first visiting team to score on Middlesbrough turf since October 18th, when Shola Ameobi ensured a similar scoreline in favour of Newcastle United.

With Arsenal not playing until this evening, at Southampton, Fortune's rare intervention leaves United four points clear at the top of the Premiership. United have lost at St Mary's this season and Arsenal lost there last season, so there can be no assumption that by tomorrow morning United's lead will be cut back to a point once again. The contrast comes with St Stephen's Day last year, when Boro won 3-1 to leave United seven points adrift of Arsenal.

Sadly for Middlesbrough, not one of their three scorers on that occasion, Alen Boksic, Szilard Nemeth and Joseph-Desire Job, was present yesterday, and Ferguson was not expressing sour grapes when he said: "I don't think they (Boro) made a chance in the whole match."

But Ferguson's pleasure at the victory was dented by the 65th-minute dismissal of Darren Fletcher for a second offence deemed worthy of a yellow card by the referee, Matt Messias.

Fletcher caught Boudewijn Zenden at speed but with no great force, yet having been booked in the 42nd minute for a pull on the substitute Stuart Parnaby, Fletcher was on his way to the tunnel after Messias rated the Zenden incident worthy of another booking.

"The referee made a rod for his own back," Ferguson said, "the first booking was ridiculous. If you go by that principle there could have been four or five sent off. He (Fletcher) is disappointed, he's only starting his career and he's never been that type of player."

This was the low point of a game that was never dirty yet turned ugly just before half-time when Messias briefly lost control and booked two Boro players as well as Fletcher.

The Middlesbrough manager, Steve McClaren, felt compelled to stalk Messias as he left the pitch at half-time and Ferguson mentioned a possible confrontation in the tunnel "by their staff".

After the game, however, McClaren preferred to concentrate on United's strengths rather than a match he described as "niggly". He looked at the top of the table and called United "champions-elect".

"I always believed that, I know what's in the camp, the mentality - and one-nils win you championships. They are capable of going 20-25 games unbeaten. They've got the hunger, got the experience and they've got to be favourites, because of that."

McClaren then admitted to "conversations" with Ferguson before kick-off, but said that Gareth Southgate leaving for Old Trafford was never discussed.

Not that United needed defensive reinforcements here. Mikael Silvestre had recovered from his knock against Everton to accompany Rio Ferdinand - and then there was Middlesbrough's goalscoring record. They have now scored six times at home in 10 games and badly need a potent forward to arrive next month.

"I'm not a fool," said McClaren, "everyone can see we lacked attacking edge."

From the first moments of the game United were the sharper. Ronaldo, so influential against Everton on Friday, was not even on the bench, but Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy were instantly one step ahead of ponderous opponents going forward.

Another factor in United's early ascendancy was the formation of the teams. Boro's man in midfield to contest the area with Roy Keane was Zenden. The Dutchman has his qualities, but one would not automatically pick him to confront the United captain. So, with Middlesbrough dropping deep, United eased into the space.

There had already been a couple of penalty-box flaps for Boro when, in the 14th minute, Scholes draped a pass out to Fortune and then spun off toward the penalty spot. A knot of players gathered there expecting a cross, but Fortune cut inside and shot with his right foot from 20 yards. The ball struck Danny Mills on the arm and diverted low past Mark Schwarzer.

It was the beginning of an eventful few minutes for Mills, an explosive individual. Running with the ball into the centre circle, he was chased by Giggs, who made contact with a hand. The defender reacted by thrusting out his right elbow violently. No connection was made but the intent was there and Messias had little option but to book Mills.

Mills managed to keep his head while the game threatened to boil over, Gary Neville in particular reacting aggressively to Fletcher's sending off.

But the season is now half over and 1-0 was good enough. As Arsenal well know.