Boro's famous Old Trafford wins
The draw for the fourth round of the Capital One Cup has given Middlesbrough the chance to relive some famous memories.
Boro will head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the next round and it’s a ground where they have enjoyed three Premier League victories in the past.
As Blue Sq pointed out in their early review of this season, Boro have avoided any lingering hangover from last season’s play-off final defeat by making progress in both the Championship and the cups, but it will be hopes of nursing a different kind of hangover which will fuel the journey to Old Trafford.
Here, we take a quick look back at the previous three wins ahead of the potential for another upset.
DECEMBER 1998 – MAN UTD 2 BORO 3
Boro headed to Old Trafford on a 10-match unbeaten run and were 2-0 up at half-time after Hamilton Ricard had opened the scoring before Dean Gordon volleyed home a second. Ricard then set up Brian Deane to score a third goal on 59 minutes before Boro had to withstand a United fightback. Nicky Butt pulled a goal back on 62 minutes and Paul Scholes scored another with 20 minutes to go. Mark Schwarzer, though, pulled off a great late save to deny Andy Cole to secure Boro’s first win at Old Trafford since 1930. It was a win that lifted Boro up to fourth in the table, just a point behind United, who were so stung by the defeat that they never lost again that season.
MARCH 2002 – MAN UTD 0 BORO 1
With United in pursuit of another title, Boro put a huge pin-prick in that bubble thanks to Alen Boksic’s early goal. The impressive Benito Carbone took the ball off Juan Sebastian Veron and fed Boksic, who scored past Fabien Barthez. Just like there was a United connection in the first Premier League win, with Bryan Robson as manager, there was again a Red Devils link as Steve McClaren, formerly assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, was now in charge of Boro.
FEBRUARY 2004 – MAN UTD 2 BORO 3
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McClaren did what plenty of managers have failed to do in their careers by claiming a second league win at Old Trafford nearly two years after the first. It was another thrilling game as two rare headers from Juninho put Boro 2-0 up after 38 minutes. However, Ruud van Nistelrooy brought United back into the game with a goal just before half-time and Ryan Giggs equalised on 63 minutes. Boro were in no mood to roll over, though, and Joseph-Desire Job’s angled shot with 10 minutes left stunned Old Trafford again, while the much-maligned Diego Forlan, who snubbed Boro in favour of joining United, missed a late chance to equalise.
