Premier League champions Manchester United went six points clear at the top of the table after a comfortable 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at The Riverside.
Relegation threatened Boro did their best to keep United at bay, but they never looked like getting anything out of the game once Ryan Giggs had slotted home the opener after 25 minutes.
United were in control as the home side struggled to muster a decent chance to test Ben Foster with.
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Middlesbrough vs Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson - who named a strong XI - then saw the points secured just moments after the break when Park Ji-sung fired home from the edge of the box after a flowing move.
The win now sees United six points ahead of nearest rivals Liverpool - who play against Newcastle on Sunday, whilst Boro remain three points adrift of safety with just three games of the season left.
Next Monday evening's derby trip to fellow strugglers Newcastle is looking increasingly pivotal for both clubs with at least one of them seemingly certain to slip out of the top flight.
The task ahead of Boro was summed up eloquently by a quick glimpse at the team-sheet before kick-off.
Ferguson, with Tuesday night's visit to the Emirates Stadium in mind, was able to make seven changes - one of them enforced by Rio Ferdinand's rib injury - without unduly weakening his team.
He was still able to name Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes, Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in his starting line-up, while his embarrassment of riches allowed him to keep Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Nani and Anderson in reserve on the bench.
By contrast, opposite number Gareth Southgate was forced to field right-back Justin Hoyte on the left with Andrew Taylor injured, and again left misfiring £12.7million striker Afonso Alves among the substitutes.
Where United exuded experience, particularly in the middle of the park where the economy of movement and accuracy of passing exhibited by Scholes and Giggs was often breathtaking, the Teessiders struggled to break their opponents down.
They caused problems for stand-in keeper Ben Foster with a series of high balls into the box, but otherwise central defenders Vidic and Jonny Evans were largely untroubled.
To their credit, Boro fought and scrapped for every ball, but there was always a feeling that United had several more gears to go through.
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