Sucker punch floors Boro as United pull six points clear

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2006

MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AFP) — Darren Fletcher struck with a sucker punch as Manchester United eased past Middlesbrough 2-1 to stretch their lead over Chelsea at the top of the Premiership to six points. Fletcher headed his second goal of the season from close range after reacting first to Ryan Giggs's 67th-minute centre, sealing United's ninth win in their last 10 league games.

The midfielder's decisive strike arrived less than two minutes after Middlesbrough had unexpectedly drawn level in an encounter largely dominated by Alex Ferguson's in-form side. Boro had shown little sign of mounting a fight-back following Louis Saha's disputed first-half penalty, until James Morrison - on for the injured Jonathan Woodgate - volleyed home from an acute angle after Gabriel Heinze...