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Boro worked hard up front with both Massimo Maccarone and Joseph-Desire Job looking lively. But for Rio Ferdinand, who was Sky's man-of-the-match, Boro could have threatened the United goal more often.
The result hinged around a very harsh penalty given by Mr. Riley of Leeds. As Ruud van Nistlerooy broke clear on the edge of the box he was challenged by Ugo Ehiogu and skied his shot well over the bar.
Apart from a tentative appeal from van Nistlerooy the danger seemed to have passed until Mr. Riley pointed to the spot claiming that Ehiogu had tugged at the Dutchmans shirt.
TV replays showed that there was the slightest of contact but certainly nothing that doesn't go on all over the pitch and definitely not worthy of a yellow card.
But remember we were at Old Trafford!
Schwarzer was given little chance by van Nistlerooy who powered the spot kick into the roof of the net.
Boro's best chances came in the second half. With about 20 minutes to go Maccarone managed to get into a good shooting postion on the right edge of the box but unfortunately he was off balance as he sliced his wide.
Ferdinand made a timely block soon after when Job attempted a shot from 12 yards out, and it was Job again who failed to direct a header past Barthez from a similar distance.
The closest Boro came to scoring was from a George Boateng shot which Barthez awkwardly bundled past the post for a corner.
Boro should take heart from this performance, defensively they were sound and but for a bit of good fortune we could have come away with at least a point.