Good morning and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE text commentary of the Premier League clash between Middlesbrough and Manchester United at the Riverside Stadium. The hosts, without a win in 10 games, parted company with manager Aitor Karanka on Thursday and today represents an opportunity for caretaker boss Steve Agnew to stake a claim for the job. But it won't be easy as Manchester United look to get back to winning ways and keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive.
Premier League / Matchday 29
Riverside Stadium / 19.03.2017
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- R. Gestede(77')
- M. Fellaini(30')
- J. Lingard(62')
- A. Valencia(90+3')
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Updated 19/03/2017 at 13:52 GMT
18'
Fabio makes a run from wing-back onto a Ramirez pass but he's beaten for pace by Smalling who passes back for De Gea.
17'
Patient football from Boro but they haven't got any player in central midfield who is prepared to make a run behind the United defence and in the end the hosts are forced to play the ball backwards.
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14'
Barragan does well to head clear an Ashley Young cross but United have the ball once more courtesy of a throw-in.
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Image credit: Reuters
13'
Lingard attempts to play through Rashford who peels off the shoulder of Bernardo in the Boro defence but the ball is intercepted by Gibson.
12'
SAVE! Ramirez cuts inside, jinks past Bailly and curls a shot destined for the top corner but De Gea does well to get a strong hand to the ball and palms it away for a corner.
11'
A spell of nice and tidy football from Boro almost carves open United at the back but Fabio's pass for Ramirez is slightly overhit and the ball rolls out for a goal-kick.
10'
Rashford hasn't scored since September 24 and a goal here would do the youngster the world of good.
9'
OVER! A loose ball sits up nicely for Leadbitter to have a shot from all of 35 yards but it ends up in row-Z.
8'
Boro have been extremely solid at the back for the majority of the season but their defence was exposed there and Rashford should have scored.
7'
CHANCE! Rashford uses his tremendous pace to ghost past Bernardo but with just the goalkeeper to beat the young England international sends it straight at Victor Valdes.
6'
It looked like United were playing three at the back on paper but on closer inspection it may just be four with Bailly starting at full-back and Valencia ahead of him.
5'
The set-piece fails to come to anything for Boro but the hosts have made a bright start.
4'
Ramirez gets away on the channel with Negredo to aim for at the back post but the winger's cross is poor. Moments later Downing sends a delivery into the area and Young does well to win the header but now Boro have a corner.
3'
Blustery conditions at the Riverside where the home fans are making plenty of noise.
2'
United go direct in the opening minute as a long ball is sent down the line for Rashford to chase but Gibson is alert and reads the danger, heading back to Valdes.
1'
KICK-OFF! Middlesbrough, in their home red kit, get us underway. Manchester United play in blue.
11:55
FIVE MINUTES UNTIL KICK-OFF: A reminder of today's starting line-ups...
MIDDLESBROUGH: Valdes; Barragan, Bernardo, Gibson, Fabio; Leadbitter, Clayton, De Roon; Ramirez, Negredo, Downing.
MAN UTD: De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Bailly; Valencia, Fellaini, Carrick, Young; Mata, Rashford, Lingard.
11:50
TEN MINUTES UNTIL KICK-OFF: Middlesbrough have gone 12 matches without a win against United in all competitions, although they did knock the Red Devils out of the League Cup in a penalty shootout last season.
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