Though United had better chances, the brave visitors defended manfully and could have taken the lead when Tuncay headed just wide in the 61st minute. But substitute Paul Scholes steadied the ship and Dimitar Berbatov blasted in from close range six minutes later.United move seven points behind leaders Liverpool with two games in hand.
Though Middlesbrough looked nothing like a side sat just above the Premier League relegation zone, that is where they remain after a run of eight games without a win.
United, meanwhile, look to be gelling and have dismissed any notion of a hangover from their exploits in the Club World Cup on the other side of the world just before Christmas. (Source: BBC Sport)