ANGRY Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince last night unleashed a triple-barrelled blast at Gary Lineker, Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United's fans.

Ince cranked up the tension ahead of his return to Old Trafford this Saturday by taking a sweeping swipe at Boro's critics - and his own.

The former England midfielder accused Sir Alex and the United faithful of showing him a lack of respect and Match of the Day frontman Lineker of talking "crap".

Ince was responding to Lineker's sarcastic on-screen quip on the eve of Boro's FA Cup quarter-final victory over Everton, when the ex-Goodison striker suggested the tie wouldn't be pretty on the eye.

Labelled 'boring Boro' after a string of sterile displays this season, the relegation-haunted Teessiders proved convincing 3-0 winners and followed up on Saturday with an even better performance against title-chasers Liverpool, despite losing 2-1 at the Riverside.

Ince said: "We played with a lot of freedom and belief against a team challenging for the title and the fact that we had 17 attempts on goal shows that it's wrong to call us 'boring Boro'.

"I think we proved a few things to a few people and I just hope Gary Lineker was watching after the crap he came out with when we beat Everton here last week. "A lot of people jumped on the bandwagon after Lineker had a go at us, but I think this showed we are a team going places.

"When you're in the position we are, you aren't going to entertain like Liverpool, Arsenal and Man. United.

"What Lineker said about us hurt a lot of people at this club and the worst thing is that he was wrong about us.

"I don't think we'll have too many problems staying in the Premiership if we keep playing like this.

"If we can play like we did against Liverpool, then this team won't go down and we'll do some good things in years to come." Ince also turned his wrath on Sir Alex and United's followers - and backed Liverpool to dethrone the champions.

The 34-year-old warhorse would love to help halt United's title charge when Boro visit the Theatre of Dreams, after adding further weight to his claims for a new two-year deal by producing a barnstorming performance against former club Liverpool.

Now he faces another reunion with United, the club he served with distinction for six years, but who he feels were ultimately guilty of slighting him.

"I'm looking forward to going to Manchester United," admitted Ince.

"I didn't leave Liverpool in the best circumstances, but their fans never give me stick and that's why I'd like them to win the title.

"I still live in Liverpool and Jamie Redknapp is my best mate and I'd like them to do it.

"I get a lot of grief from Manchester United fans and I can't understand it. They should remember I was part of the team that took the title back to Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years.

"The pressure on United grew every year that they weren't champions and in 1992 we really did blow up when Leeds overtook us.

"I sweated blood and shed tears in my six years at United and I think I should be respected for that.

"But all I get is stick whenever I go there because Ferguson once called me a 'big-time Charlie' in some television programme.

"So now it's a case of 'let's wind him up again'.

"It's been a while since Liverpool won the title but I think the advantage they have is that they have a few foreign lads who won't feel the pressure as much as English players.

"Most have them don't understand the rivalry between Liverpool and United and haven't been at Anfield for a lot of the time that United have dominated.

"Maybe that will let them play with a bit more freedom in the run-in because the team that does that will come out on top.

"Things are going to change over the next few weeks. It's close, but it would be nice to have someone different winning it rather than Manchester United again." However, Ince insisted that Liverpool's latest win was undeserved. "It was a cruel result because we were the better team for much of the game," he said.

"When you play a top team like Liverpool and you start well you have got to take your chances.

"We didn't and they made us pay. They created their first goal when we were attacking at a corner, but they are a terrific team on the break.

"You always know that once you go behind to Liverpool they will sit ten men behind the ball and look to pick you off with counter-attacks." Boro boss Steve McClaren admitted that Ince is making out a compelling case for a new contract when his current deal ends this summer.

"Incey has been magnificent again," said McClaren."He's a driving force and after this performance I can fully understand why he feels he has another two years left at the top."

Meanwhile, Boro have played down reports that McClaren will quit his England coaching post after the World Cup.

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