United defence fail to heed Job

Soccer English/FA Premiership: Man Utd 2 Middlesbrough 3:Alex Ferguson is a man whose job is under great scrutiny. How he must wish his defence had paid the same attention to a man called Job.

Joseph-Desire Job was given sufficient room 10 minutes from the end to drill in a spectacular winner for Middlesbrough that leaves Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premiership and ups the ante once again on Ferguson.

It had seemed that Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy had eased the pressure on United with two goals that cancelled the four-minute brace of headers from Juninho in the first half.

Then in injury time Diego Forlan placed an unmarked header on to the crossbar from five yards to ensure United's first home defeat since losing 3-1 to Fulham last October.

Juninho is 5ft 5in and wears size five boots but it appears Boro's cherished little Brazilian will have a large say in the destiny of this year's title. Juninho would no doubt note that five points is a serious margin.

Ferguson had referred to the "off-field nonsense" in his programme column, but that may not be his greatest problem this morning.

Missing the injured Gary Neville and with Roy Keane rested for the FA Cup derby with Manchester City here on Saturday, Ferguson gave Nicky Butt a first start since St Stephen's Day.

It was Butt's left-foot pass from deep that set United off on their way for the night's first dangerous effort. From Butt the ball moved swiftly to van Nistelrooy, then Paul Scholes and finally Ryan Giggs, the captain in Keane's absence. Giggs's shot skimmed past Mark Schwarzer's right post.

That was after only 10 minutes and Giggs was centrally involved in United's next threatening attack, 10 later.

So was Scholes, the midfielder's cute, clipped probe over the top sending Giggs through and approaching the penalty spot. Just as he pulled back his left foot, however, Giggs saw the ball whipped away from him by Gareth Southgate's excellent last-ditch challenge.

But an impression of home dominance would be misleading. Boro may not have a reputation for excitement but any midfield that contains Gaizka Mendieta and Boudewijn Zenden has an ability to pass and go.

Doriva, Middlesbrough's unheralded Brazilian also possesses this desire - as well as one to tackle - and he was a significant influence for Boro again in the first half.

But not as important as Juninho. When Franck Queudrue's speculative, if well-struck, 25-yarder squirted through the dive of Tim Howard and back off the crossbar, the Brazilian followed up to head into the open net.

Old Trafford was briefly silenced. Then it was stunned when Juninho did it again. Maybe his size makes him a forgettable presence at corners but when Stewart Downing and Zenden played a short corner and the ball flew in, Juninho drifted to the near post to direct a flick past the bemused Howard.

United had to respond but only six minutes were left to half-time and Boro seemed to have seen them out when Giggs swung in a cross from the left. Louis Saha chested the ball down and was about to shoot when van Nistelrooy swept past and volleyed an unstoppable shot past Schwarzer.

The interval gave both sides a chance to catch breath and, in United's case, the opportunity to reorganise. On came Phil Neville for Wes brown with John O'Shea switching to centre half.

Ronaldo was introduced for the ineffective Kleberson and the Portuguese ran on as Neville sent in a cross to the far post. Giggs collected, evaded Danny Mills and squeezed the equaliser under Schwarzer. Old Trafford erupted, the crowd stimulated by the contest. Now the search was on for a winner.

MANCHESTER UTD: Howard, O'Shea, Brown (Phil Neville 45), Silvestre, Fortune, Kleberson (Ronaldo 63), Scholes, Butt (Forlan 87), Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Saha. Subs Not Used: Carroll, Fletcher.Booked: Silvestre. Goals: van Nistelrooy 45, Giggs 63.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Mills, Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue, Mendieta (Parnaby 72), Doriva, Zenden, Downing, Job, Juninho Paulista (Cooper 90). Subs Not Used: Jones, Maccarone, Nemeth. Booked: Mills. Goals: Juninho Paulista 34, 38, Job 80.

PremiershipTop five

P W D L F A Pts

Arsenal 25 18 7 0 49 16 61

Man Utd 25 18 2 5 49 23 56

Chelsea 25 17 4 4 46 19 55

Liverpool 25 10 8 7 36 27 38

Newcastle 25 9 11 5 35 26 38