UNLUCKY Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Ince believes one strange decision has resulted in him missing out on this year's FA Cup semi-final.

Ince faces a two-match ban after he was shown his tenth yellow card of the season in the 1-0 win over Manchester United.

And at the final whistle, instead of being delighted with the victory over his old employers, Ince was left despondent after learning he will miss the Premiership clash with Aston Villa a week on Saturday and the semi-final with Arsenal eight days later.

"I'm disappointed that I'm going to miss our FA Cup day," said Ince, who was booked for handling when he stopped a Paul Scholes cross from hitting his face. "I would love to be a part of that day on the pitch.

"It's frustrating because it was a nothing booking and it's really annoying that I'm now ruled out."

'Boro boss Steve McClaren, sympathised with his skipper and admitted he felt referee Steve Bennett's decision to issue a card was ridiculous.

But McClaren also thought Mr Bennett was forced into that action after the official took United defender Mikael Silvestre's name for a similar scenario.

"It was a nothing incident," said McClaren. "I mean how can you be booked for that? It's stupid, unless it's deliberate which it clearly wasn't.

"I thought the Silvestre one was a stupid booking as well. We ask for consistency and that's what we get.

"Instead of coming off the pitch delighted Ince is disappointed if the suspension is confirmed. It's disappointing for everybody. It was totally innocuous."

Former Man. United man Ince, meanwhile, received his usual barrage of abuse from the Old Trafford faithful on Saturday.

But it was Ince who left the happier with the result after 'Boro put the brakes on the Red Devils' title push.

And the 34-year-old said: "I had six great years here and to come back and get 'you Scouse this' and 'you Scouse that' from the fans - well, there's no need for it is there?

"It's sad but it's part and parcel of the game and you just have to put up with it.

"I think it's sad because it was never my decision to leave Man. United for Italy - that was Alex Ferguson's decision.

"You just have to take it. It's unfair but you just have to get on with it.

"To get a result like that makes it sweeter for me to come back here."

Boro climbed into the top ten for the first time this season after claiming all three points - but Ince is adamant that they have not secured top-flight safety yet.

"This is just three points and there's still a long way to go," he said. "We've got to play Tottenham on Saturday and we know that it's important we keep to the same level of performance.

"There's no hiding the fact that this is a massive result for us and we have taken another step up the table.

"We have to make sure that we don't get carried away. We can enjoy it but we know we have to just keep ourselves going.

Ince, who believes Liverpool will go on to take the Premiership crown, revealed how the odds offered at bookmakers across the country played its part in motivating determined Boro.

McClaren's men were as much as 13/1 in some places to win at the Theatre of Dreams.

And Ince said: "I thought that 10/1 for us to win here after we played so well against Liverpool last week was an insult.

"I had a bit of banter with Giggsy about that both before and after the match. And it worked for us!"

The ex-Liverpool and Inter Milan tough-tackler may not be involved in the semi-final with Arsenal on April 14, but he insists Boro can make progress if they approach the game in the same frame of mind.

"We came here and set our stall out," said Ince. "We knew they would try to run the midfield so we kept it tight and we achieved what we set out to.

"There's no hiding that Man. United put us under a lot of pressure but we defended well and we created chances of our own.

"When we come back here in the semi-finals against Arsenal we just have to play the same way. If we do that we'll be in with a chance."

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