WHEN a depleted Middlesbrough side went to Old Trafford in October and earned a point Steve McClaren hailed the 1-1 draw as one of the most memorable results of his career.

Three months later the Boro boss returned to the Theatre of Dreams for an FA Cup tie that saw the Teessiders outplayed, out-fought and outclassed by Sir Alex Ferguson's Cup holders.

There was a gulf in class between the two sides and the question many Boro fans will ask themselves is what has happened to Steve McClaren's men?

The draw in October was a defining moment in Boro's season. It came on the back of their first away date in the UEFA Cup - a 1-1 draw in Ostrava - and was the start of a seven match unbeaten Premiership run that saw McClaren's side move up to fourth in the table.

Back then James Morrison and Tony McMahon made their first starts in the Premiership and their youthful exuberance and lack of fear helping Boro to an improbable point that day.

Confidence in the Boro camp was sky high.

On Saturday that confidence was nowhere to be seen. The game was played far more in the heads of the 22 men on the pitch than on the lush green turf of Old Trafford.

It appeared Boro never really believed they were going to win, while defeat was never an option for United.

January has not been kind to Middlesbrough. Their FA Cup third round 2-1 win at Notts County is their only victory this year and a return of two points from their last 12 in the league has severely dented their Champions League aspirations.

McClaren said: "We've had a difficult month and we haven't had the results we would have hoped for. I can't blame the players. They've worked hard enough but we haven't got the luxury of a big squad."

McClaren played a five-man midfield in October with the extra body in a central position proving crucial against Roy Keane and John O'Shea.

The same policy was employed on Saturday night but this time there was no joy. With Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo playing off Wayne Rooney in attack, this time there always seemed to be an extra United body in midfield.

Boro never gained a foothold and it appeared a matter of time before the home side went ahead.

McClaren said: "We set off with a game plan and it worked the last time we were here. But you have to score the first goal when you go to Old Trafford and we didn't do that.

"The first goal killed us. It was always going to be difficult coming here with United on good form.

"They started much better than us and we could not get back at them.

"I was at the game on Wednesday (Carling Cup) and they (Man United) had chances to win. I was disappointed because I thought there'd be a backlash because I know what the manager is about and what the players are about.

"I knew once they were out of the Carling Cup they'd want to concentrate on the FA Cup and you could see that from the first whistle.

"But we've still got a lot to play for. I said to the players 'we're out of the FA Cup but we're still sixth in the league, we've still got a place in Europe to go, and we're in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup'.

"In two or three weeks we'll hopefully get two or three of our players back. We've got to look forward because there's still a long way to go."

The game should have been over when O'Shea put Ferguson's side one up after just ten minutes.

After Quinton Fortune's cross had been half cleared, Ronaldo's effort deflected off Bolo Zenden for O'Shea to turn and shoot all too easily high into Mark Schwarzer's goal.

Boro survived a few scares before the half hour and were then almost gifted a route back into the game.

Rio Ferdinand's ball to Phil Neville was intercepted by Zenden who set up Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the area.

Instead of shooting the striker laid the ball back to his fellow Dutchman who attempted to chip Roy Carroll only for the keeper to smother his effort.

McClaren said: "The save from Bolo Zenden was probably the defining moment because if we had scored at that stage then we were right back in it and it would have been a different game."

But a different game it wasn't. After Ray Parlour's effort a few minutes later was blocked by Gabriel Heinze, Boro's attacking threat ended.

The introduction of Joseph Job at the interval did little to change things and the second half belonged to Rooney.

His first, and United's second, arrived in the 67th minute courtesy of an excellent through ball from Gary Neville, who took a short break from nullifying the threat of Stewart Downing.

The mere presence of the England right back proved too much for Downing who slipped allowing Gary Neville to side foot a 40 yard pass to the on rushing Rooney racing down the right.

With Colin Cooper beaten for pace, Schwarzer made the mistake of half venturing out of his box to meet the 19-year-old.

When he decided this was probably not the best idea it was too late. Rooney saw the Australian off his line and a curling chip from 30 yards found an empty net.

An exquisite finish.

Fifteen minutes later and route one produced United's third.

Carroll's long punt forward was headed into Rooney's path by substitute Louis Saha and his volley from the edge of the area was textbook in its execution.

Pace, precision - perfection.

Back to the drawing board and the phone for McClaren who still hopes to add to his squad before 5pm today.

He said "We've been working hard throughout January, especially in the last week and we've still got two days to go.

"We need some players in because at the present moment we're suffering.

"However hard we work we can't peak all the season. We are still sixth in the league and over the next two or three weeks we have to pick things up again."

Result Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 0.

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