"?Happy 75th birthday, Sir Alex.
Manchester United pulled off a classic late, late show in tribute to legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson on New Year's Eve, beating a dogged Middlesbrough side 2-1 at Old Trafford, to keep in touch with the Premier League's top four.
All the best to one of the best - Sir Alex Ferguson! ?? #MUFC pic.twitter.com/Gu3GDxuhFJ
Late goals from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba settled a match which United dominated, and thoroughly deserved to win, despite Boro taking a second half lead through Grant Leadbitter.
United have a trip to the London Stadium to contend with on Monday - a mere 48 hours after the full time whistle of this one - so Jose Mourinho made a host of changes for kick off. Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly returned in defence, while Michael Carrick was left out of the squad given the quick turnaround for the next game.
Boro handed a debut to Bernardo Espinosa at the back to deal with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mhitaryan - also returning to the starting line up after injury - but Boro should really have taken the lead within three minutes.
The pacy Adama Traore led a three-on-one counter attack for the visitors after Boro won the ball in midfield, but could only scuff the ball well wide of the post after getting his sight on goal. United's changed-up defensive line looked shaky at times, with Daley Blind particularly suffering with Traore's pace, but from that moment on, it was one-way traffic.
FULL-TIME Man Utd 2-1 Middlesbrough. Quick-fire goals from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba make it 5 #PL wins in a row for United #MUNMID pic.twitter.com/qHnMznVorU
Pogba saw a shot rattle off the post from an acrobatic overhead kick in the 13th minute, following good build up play, and Middlesbrough's intention to retreat and pack their own box was made clear from that point. It put pressure on United to make the breakthrough, but when they thought they'd found it, referee Lee Mason took it from them.
Anthony Martial's influence on the game had been growing, and he unleashed a rocket of a shot from nearly 30 yards and saw the ball, again, crack off the post. The ball stayed in play and he retrieved it, jinked past a defender and crossed in to Ibrahimovic, who rose to turn the ball home with his studs.
Mason soon blew up to rule out the goal, judging that the Swede's boot was too high and too dangerous to be legal. The decision was harsh to say the least, and you could tell already what was coming in the post-match press conferences from Jose Mourinho - who was incredulous on the touchline.
The interval came and went, but the direction of the game continued. There were times when Boro did actually venture out of their own half, and on occasion they gave their hosts something to think about. And they certainly did that 20 minutes from time, as Leadbitter found some space in the box and slotted past David de Gea to give his side a shock lead. It was looking like another one of those days for the Old Trafford faithful.
Try as they might, it just looked as though a United goal was not going to come. Marcus Rashford was introduced as United switched to a back three, and his direction, pace and dribbling skills added a new threat. But a combination of poor finishing, Middlesbrough's determination and just plain bad luck suggested United were set to fall further behind the top four.
On Alex Ferguson's birthday, #MUFC pull off a classic Fergie tribute.
That was, until a route one ball to Ibrahimovic was flicked into the path of Martial, and he finally had the time and space to pick his spot and put the ball into the back of the net. The collective sigh of relief was evident, but United needed a winner. And they soon got that too.
Juan Mata's cross was directed into the net by Pogba with expert precision, and the excellent Frenchman wheeled off in celebration in front of a home crowd that had just been given a taste of what they've missed over the last few years.
Middlesbrough's resilience went unrewarded as United ended up as deserved winners, drawing to within a point of the top four at the end of 2016.
Here's today's #MUFC team to face Middlesbrough... #MUNMID pic.twitter.com/1ump6Cs3NN
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TEAM NEWS | Here's how #Boro will line up to face @ManUtd this afternoon. #UTB pic.twitter.com/NitjyUowGW
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