Cry-Baby Ronaldo Bubbling Again!
Just before the break Boro skipper Emanuel Pogatetz accidently tripped over his boot lace and appeared to wrestle the Portugal winger to the ground. Ronaldo let out a loud scream and ran to the ref, holding his hand to his throat.
Pogatetz explained the 'accident' to the referee, but the players clashed again as the teams left the pitch and had to be pulled apart.
Sir Alex Ferguson: "It seems Pogatetz grabbed him by the neck. It happens all the time. There is jostling and jersey-pulling. Defenders are getting away with murder."
The incident would be forgotten at any other ground, but not at Old Trafford, and the rift that has grown between the clubs in recent seasons will no doubt be inflamed.
Pogatetz has a history at Old Trafford. The Boro defender was shownd a red card for a tackle on Rodrigo Possebon back in September's Carling Cup third-round clash.
Gareth Southgate played down the Ronaldo-Pogatetz clash, saying: "I heard a lot of noise and there was some finger-pointing — but that's all.
"The referee seemed pretty comfortable wth it. When teams are marking from corners there is always a bit of contact.
"I'd prefer to focus on the fact that we showed a big improvement here and produced a performance that gives us belief going forward.
"This was a shot to nothing and what we do from here on in is what really matters."