Manchester United U21 vs Middlesbrough U21 [ 1 - 0 ] Full Match : First Half – 11 April 2016

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• published: 11 Apr 2016
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Barclays Under-21 Premier League | Manchester United vs Middlesbrough 1-0 Full Match Goals & Highlights - First Half | 11 April 2016 | Old Trafford | Scorers: McNair 67 VIDEO Second Half: https://youtu.be/zxS2AiZbhs4 Manchester United took a huge stride towards retaining the Barclays Under-21 Premier League title with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney played for an hour as planned and Phil Jones came through the entire 90 minutes unscathed as Warren Joyce's side took the points with Paddy McNair's second-half winner. A crowd of 6,132 saw the Reds wear down stubborn opponents and, with Tottenham beating Sunderland, a victory at White Hart Lane, live on MUTV next Monday, or even two points from the last three games, will be enough to lift the trophy. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson drilled off target following a nice ball by James Weir but United looked a little sluggish from the outset and struggled to make any headway. Boro carved out the clearest early opening when Arnel Jakupovic shrugged off Ro-Shaun Williams but fired too close to Sam Johnstone, who saved with his foot. The bright Weir sent in a snap shot that was pushed away by Joe Fryer and then forced the keeper to save at his near post after an inventive one-two with Rooney. Johnny Burn somehow escaped any punishment for a reckless tackle on Joe Rothwell that led to the midfielder being forced off as the Teessiders defended with plenty of organisation and resilience. United cleared their heads and finished the half in the ascendancy but McNair rifled a drive into the stands and Devonte Redmond bent an effort into Fryer's arms. Weir was withdrawn at the break due to a minor injury and his vibrancy was missed, although Rooney sent a free-kick off target before making way for the fit-again Axel Tuanzebe. The third change led to a reshuffle with Tuanzebe at right-back, Joe Riley playing as left-winger and Andreas Pereira asked to perform up front. Pereira looked the likeliest source of inspiration and, after teeing up Donald Love for a powerful shot at Fryer, he supplied a 67th-minute cross from the right that was controlled by McNair inside the box and hammered home by the Northern Ireland international. Riley's diving header was blocked and there were few goalmouth incidents until the game burst into life in the last couple of minutes. Pereira unleashed a tremendous shot that bounced back off the bar, Callum Cooke flashed a long-ranger wide as Boro tried in vain to sneak a point, while Pereira also worked Fryer from distance. United are a point behind Sunderland in the table and the Black Cats have finished their programme with the Reds also enjoying a superior goal difference of six at present. United: Johnstone; Riley, Williams, Jones, Borthwick-Jackson; McNair, Love; Redmond, Rothwell, Weir (El Fitouri 46); Rooney (Tuanzebe 61). Subs not used: J.Pereira, Poole.