United's chilling vision

A few weeks ago Manchester United fans were worrying that the club would rue the day they released the man regarded as Alex Ferguson's natural successor.

On Saturday, with Brian Kidd at Blackburn and Ferguson absent because of a family bereavement, supporters and directors alike were offered a timely glimpse of what the future might look like without the men behind the club's colossal successes. As United went 3-0 down at home after 59 minutes, it was a chilling vision.

However, Middlesbrough's first win at Old Trafford since 1930 also offered an alternative glimpse of a post-Ferguson United. So impressive are Middlesbrough now that it becomes easier by the day to see Bryan Robson returning to manage the club he served with injury-prone distinction for 13 years.

Eleven Premiership games unbeaten have lifted Middlesbrough to fourth. United, meanwhile, have won only one of their last six Premiership games, last kept a clean sheet on November 8th and have conceded 23 goals. Compare this to 27 in all league games last season.

Statistics like these point to one area, and sure enough collective defensive failings once again cost United the chance to go top of the table. Jaap Stam was missing injured, but even with him the fundamental problem remains.

The rock-solid years of telepathic understanding between Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister have been replaced by the suicidal uncertainty of a fluctuating central defensive partnership comprising Stam and A N Other. Ferguson must surely settle on a central pair and give them time to develop an understanding, or buy someone better to partner Stam.

Pallister's dominant performance on his first return to Old Trafford since joining Middlesbrough in the summer only reinforced the view that he was sold a year too soon.

The person who adds to United's defensive uncertainty is the goalkeeper. Someone, somewhere seems to have made a subtle switch, for the man between the United sticks is surely not Peter Schmeichel but a less-talented twin.

The big Dane was once renowned for his presence. Now it his presents. Take Middlesbrough's first goal: when Gary Neville carelessly waved through the impressive Dean Gordon's cross, Schmeichel fatally stayed on his line, allowing Brian Deane to set up Hamilton Ricard to score.

Middlesbrough's football did not offer much fantasy, especially without the suspended Paul Gascoigne. Basically they played simple balls up to Ricard and Deane, and allowed the big but mobile pair to create havoc on the ground and in the air.

The team is hard-working, strong, experienced, well-organised and, given their recent run, increasingly confident. Robson rated this performance the best in his 4 1/2 years in charge.

Goal number two followed a poor headed clearance by the central defender Ronnie Johnsen which the unmarked Gordon rifled home from 20 yards.

Then, for number three, Ricard pounced on an awful pass by Johnsen and fed Deane, who shrugged off a powder-puff challenge from Phil Neville to score.

The man in charge of United, Jim Ryan, was a few weeks ago the reserve-team coach. Now here he stood in his first senior game as number one, eager to show why he should be made Kidd's successor, and they were 3-0 down.

To United's credit, they stormed back. Nicky Butt scored within three minutes with a header, then on 69 minutes the substitute Paul Scholes added another after finishing off a move he began.

Coming into this game United had suffered four bad draws in a row - five if you count being handed Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals. But they would have settled for another one now.

However, Andy Cole missed a sitter and the three-goal deficit proved too much. As a result United lost their unbeaten home record and Bernie Slaven will today lose his trousers after the former Middlesbrough striker promised to bare all in a local shop window if the team won. Fergie probably wishes he could get to the bottom of things so easily.

Manchester UTD: Schmeichel, P Neville (Solskjaer 78), Irwin, Johnsen, G Neville, Butt, Beckham (Scholes 64), Keane, Giggs, Cole, Sheringham. Subs Not Used: Blomqvist, Van Der Gouw, Brown. Booked: Beckham. Goals: Butt 62, Scholes 70.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Gordon, Vickers, Festa, Pallister, Mustoe (Moore 72), Deane, Maddison (Beck 83), Townsend, Ricard, Cooper. Subs Not Used: Blackmore, Roberts, Stockdale. Booked: Festa. Goals: Ricard 23, Gordon 31, Deane 59.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).