Dimitar Berbatov scored Monday to give Manchester United a hard fought 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough to boost its title defense.

The Red Devils remain seven points adrift of leader Liverpool, but with two games in hand.

“We are in a good position come the turn of the year,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “We have two games in hand, both at home, and it is going too be a great run in.”

On a frustrating night at Old Trafford, Berbatov took until the 69th minute to break the deadlock.

The Bulgaria striker volleyed home from close range after Michael Carrick’s cross had bounced back off defender David Wheater.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Park Ji-sung had all squandered chances against the stubborn visitors before Berbatov’s winner.

Park could have extended United’s lead, but somehow managed to shoot over from three yards (meters).

Ferguson said that his side’s wastefulness in front of goal is becoming a worry.

“We have missed a lot of chances. That is a big concern,” Ferguson said after the match, the second in a row in which United has ground out a 1-0 win over inferior opponents after beating Stoke by the same scoreline on Friday.

“(Wins like this) are just as important,” Ferguson said. “Three points are the name of the game. But I have to say how well Middlesbrough played tonight. For a team in their position (one place above the relegation zone) it belies their ability.”

Ferguson also had praise for Berbatov, who has struggled to reproduce the kind of form he showed at former club Tottenham and which prompted United to pay more than 30 million pounds ($43 million) for his services in September.

“He is a marvelous player and I thought he was absolutely superb for us. He took his goal well,” Ferguson said.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate said he could draw a lot of positives from the performance despite losing.

“We looked bright, our attitude was fantastic and there was a lot of healthy performances. I’m not displeased,” Southgate said. “Only one team has taken a point from here so there’s no disgrace in that.”

Southgate dismissed speculation that his position at the Riverside Stadium could be under threat given Middlesbrough’s lowly position.

“We don’t take our position for granted but we understand the situation we are working in,” he said. “We’re competing – five or six games ago we were in a healthy position. Two wins would change things, there’s no panic here.”

Ross Turnbull had a busy night in the Middlesbrough goal as he kept United’s strike force at bay.

A low curling effort from Wayne Rooney was turned wide and Cristiano Ronaldo’s resulting cross was palmed away from Berbatov’s path.

Ronaldo couldn’t find the net with two free kicks, striking wide and at Turnbull, while later having a claim for a penalty dismissed by referee Martin Atkinson after being grappled to the ground by Emanuel Pogatetz.

Posted on December 30th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Soccer news