A late show from Premiership strugglers Middlesbrough resulted in an early exit from the FA Cup for Manchester United at the Riverside Stadium today. Noel Whelan fired Middlesbrough into a 1-0 lead with just five minutes to go in this fourth round tie, and when substitute Andy Campbell added a second in the 89th minute, it gave the Premiership champions no time to recover from the shock of going behind at such a late stage in the game.
It was a sweet result for Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren as he got one over his old boss Alex Ferguson after United had last week gazumped Boro in the signing of Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan. The former United coach celebrated as he watched his side somehow turn this game on its head. Boro had been completely outplayed before the half-time break and had only managed to keep a clean sheet thanks to two Robbie Mustoe goalline clearances. However, for all United's possession and complete dominance in the opening 45 minutes, they failed to severely test keeper Mark Crossley with only Fabien Barthez at the opposite end having a quieter game.
Both sides made changes in the second half but it was Boro who seemed to benefit more from their substitutions, despite the fact that United introduced star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and winger Ryan Giggs after the break. The game came to life as both teams went close to scoring but, in the end, it was yet another error from the United defence that gifted Boro the lead. Laurent Blanc inexplicably allowed Crossley's clearance to bounce over his head and all the way through to the lingering Whelan who calmly slotted the ball between Barthez's legs for his fourth goal in seven games.
United fought hard for the equaliser that would at least put their name into the hat for the fifth round draw but worse was to come before the final whistle as Barthez fluffed a clearance and Whelan found Dean Windass whose cross was headed home by Campbell at the far post much to the delight and admittedly disbelief of the home supporters as they celebrated a famous victory.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
