Ronaldo Benched at Boro

Cristiano Ronaldo was given the afternoon off on Saturday, with the Portuguese superstar saving him legs for Tuesday night. Ronny was on the bench just in case United didn't get a goal, but wasn't needed.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rested key players with Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal in mind and, surprisingly, Middlesbrough rarely forced United to increase their tempo.

Boro, who remain second from bottom in the table, were bereft of ideas and relied on hopeful high balls into the area, which centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans coped with admirably.

The home side did have one clear chance when Marlon King played in Aliadiere but Foster was alert to make the save.

At the other end, United's front pairing of Dimitar Berbatov and Federico Macheda were largely ineffective in a 4-4-2 formation.

So when United scored, it was no surprise it came from the boot of the PFA Player of the Year, who is as desperate for his 11th league title as some of his team-mates are for their first. Rooney found Vidic, who had been forward for a set-piece, who in turn laid the ball to Giggs. The 35-year-old Welshman steadied himself before placing his low effort wide of Jones' left from the edge of the area.

His veteran partner in the middle, Paul Scholes, 34, should have tested Jones after the break, but uncharacteristically failed to find the target with both of his long-range efforts.

Luckily for Scholes, United are not short of sharp-shooters. Their second came after a sublime move that saw Giggs and Macheda play a one-two before the fabulous Rooney threaded the ball to Park, who powered in a low drive. It was the highlight of the match and underlined that gulf in quality between the two squads.

Middlesbrough: Jones, McMahon (Digard 55), Wheater, Huth, Hoyte, O'Neil (Emnes 70), Sanli, Bates, Downing, King (Alves 55), Aliadiere.

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Arca, Adam Johnson, Grounds.
Booked: Huth.

Man Utd: Foster, O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra (Rafael Da Silva 78), Park (Nani 74), Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov, Macheda (Tevez 55).

Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Ronaldo, Anderson, Gibson.
Booked: Macheda.
Goals: Giggs 25, Park 51.

Att: 33,767
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)