Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United survived the 64th minute sending-off of Darren Fletcher to stretch their Premiership lead to four points.
Fletcher was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a rash challenge on Bolo Zenden in his own half. But United rode their luck which began in the 14th minute when Quinton Fortune's cross was deflected past his own keeper by Middlesbrough defender Danny Mills.
Steve McClaren's men piled on the pressure in the second half but failed yet again to break a Riverside Stadium goal drought which has now stretched to an incredible five matches.