Boro refused to allow the champions any leeway in the early stages as Marinelli on the right got involved to allow Alen Boksic and Ricard to put Laurent Blanc and John O’Shea under pressure.

Ricard’s industry won his side the first corner of the game on five minutes when Keane slid the ball into touch, but the Irishman got his head to Marinelli’s cross to clear his lines.

The visitors stuttered through the opening minutes, but were handed a good opportunity on nine minutes when former United skipper Paul Ince was penalised for a foul on Veron.

Butt took a quick free-kick to Mikael Silvestre, but his cross from the left was too strong for Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.