Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Middlesbrough and Manchester United at the Riverside Stadium. The Red Devils have struggled for momentum in the top flight in recent weeks, dropping points in four of their last six outings to remain outside of the top four, while Boro - currently without a manager - dropped into the relegation zone a fortnight ago.

Defeat for Arsenal yesterday has opened up the door for United to finally break into the top five, while rivals Manchester City also face off against Liverpool later today so something has to give there. This could be a pivotal weekend for the Red Devils, then, but only if they can pick up victory in the North-East in this lunchtime kickoff to build some momentum. Boro, on the other hand, will simply be looking for an improved performance to stop their alarming slide, which has seen them drop down to 19th place.

TEAM NEWS!

MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Valdes, Barragan, Bernardo, Gibson, Fabio, Clayton, Leadbitter, De Roon, Ramirez, Downing, Negredo

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Bailly, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Lingard, Rashford

Starting with a look at the visiting side, boss Jose Mourinho has made seven changes to his starting lineup. David de Gea, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford all come back into the side, with United making the most of squad rotation during this hectic period of fixtures. The big-name absentee this afternoon is star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who sits out the second domestic game of this three-match ban, meaning a chance for Rashford to impress through the middle.

United are also without record signing Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera in the engine room - two big absentees, who will be replaced by Carrick and Fellaini in the engine room. There is a 200th Premier League start for arguably the Red Devils' most consistent player this season, makeshift wing-back Antonio Valencia, while on the other flank Ashley Young will look to combine attack with defence in a five-man backline.

Daley Blind was doubtful for today's match due to a head injury picked up in the win over Rostov, and he is clearly still not over that as he misses out on the squad entirely this afternoon. Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial are back in the matchday squad following their recent layoffs, but skipper Wayne Rooney is still nowhere to be seen. Multiple changes for the visiting side this afternoon, then, with Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata supplying the ammunition for Rashford up top in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

In terms of the hosts, stand-in boss Steve Agnew has tweaked the starting lineup slightly by bringing in Stewart Downing, Gaston Ramirez and Alvaro Negredo. There is also a return in goal for former Man United stopper Victor Valdes, who sat outlast weekend's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City. Brad Guzan, Adama Traore, Cristhian Stuani and Rudy Gestede have all been benched by Agnew, as he looks to kick off his tenure with three valuable points this afternoon.

Adlene Guedioura is back in contention for the Smoggies today after being ineligible for the cup tie with Man City last weekend, but he is unable to force his way into the starting lineup and instead makes do with a place on the bench. Daniel Ayala, Calum Chambers and George Friend are all absent for the hosts this afternoon, however, with four changes being made by Agnew from that 2-0 reverse at the hands of the Citizens just over a week ago.

The big news as far as the hosts are concerned is the return of Downing in midfield, having been left out of the squad entirely eight days ago due to a supposed bust-up with Aitor Karanka. The Englishman could well find himself higher up the field if Boro are feeling brave, alongside returning pair Ramirez and Negredo in what is likely a 4-3-3 formation - 4-5-1 when defending. With United fielding three centre-backs this afternoon, it could be another tough 90-minute shift for those forward players.

BENCH WATCH!

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Guzan, Stuani, Fry, Guedioura, Gestede, Forshaw, Traore

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Rojo, Martial, Romero, Mkhitaryan, Shaw, Fosu-Mensah, Darmian

Martial and Shaw back among the subs for United this afternoon, but there is still no sign of skipper Rooney. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also among the subs, having been rested from the off by Mourinho following a gruelling run of fixtures. Guedioura could play a part for the hosts from the bench, meanwhile, after missing out on last weekend's meeting with Man City, while Guzan, Traore, Stuani and Gestede all drop out of the starting lineup as Agnew looks to put his spin on things.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has made seven changes to his side from Thursday night's victory over Rostov, with Marcus Rashford - as expected - coming into the side to lead the line in place of the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic. No Paul Pogba or Ander Herrera this afternoon due to injury and suspension respectively, while in defence there is a 200th Premier League appearance for Antonio Valencia. Middlesbrough have made a handful of changes themselves, as stand-in boss Steve Agnew brings Stewart Downing back into the fold following his spat with Aitor Karanka.

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Boro head into today's game sitting 19th in the Premier League table, five points from safety but with two games in hand on Swansea City in 17th. The Smoggies took the decision to sack boss Karanka on Thursday following what had been, on the whole, a successful three-and-a-half-year stint at the Riverside Stadium - a year-on-year improvement culminating in last term's promotion to the top tier following a prolonged absence. No news on who will replace him just yet, with Agnew the man to steady the ship for the time being.

Karanka built up a hero-like reputation during his time in charge, but there was a sense of inevitability about this week's sacking as Boro have drifted further and further down the table and now find themselves in serious trouble. The immediate priority for Agnew is to simply pick up a positive result today - a point would be more than welcome in the circumstances - with the gap at the bottom beginning to open up following positive results for Crystal Palace and Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

Boro's form really has been terrible since the start of the year, with their only wins of any sort since then coming in the FA Cup. They have gradually dropped down the division and found themselves in the relegation zone for the first time a fortnight ago following a 2-0 surrender at Palace, which saw their long wait for a goal go on. That defeat at Selhurst Park was their sixth in 10 outings; the other four in that run ending in a draw.

The Smoggies have also scored just two goals since the turn of the year - the lowest tally in Europe's top five leagues - and their 19 scored all term is by far the worst in the English top flight, even after Karanka tried tweaking things slightly by leaving out top scorer Negredo recently. At the other end of the pitch, things look far brighter as they have shipped just 30 goals in 2016-17, which is bettered by only four other sides.

There is certainly a solid base for Agnew - or whoever else comes in during the international break - to build on, with this backline essentially the key reason behind Boro's promotion to the Premier League last season. Adding goals to the formula was always going to be the big task during the summer, but their signings have not proved all that successful and Karanka also missed out on the attacking players he wanted in the January window, settling for targetman Rudy Gestede from Aston Villa.

A failure to win today will make it 11 games since their last three-point haul in the Premier League - the joint-longest run without victory for any side in the Premier League this season, alongside Swansea City who have just about turned things around under new boss Paul Clement. Should they taste defeat, as many are backing them to do so, it will be their 100th in the top flight - a milestone figure that they will want to put off for as long as possible, with their stay in the Premier League in serious jeopardy as things stand.

When taking in those key aforementioned stats, it is little wonder than Boro dispensed with boss Karanka this week, even if he does have a hero-like status in these parts after taking the Smoggies from mid-table in the Championship and into the Premier League during his 40 months or so at the helm. The Smoggies have fewer wins than any other side in the Premier League this season (4) and also have the worse goals-for tally with just 19 scored in all, failing to find the net in 13 of their 27 outings.

Steve Agnew, who made the move from Hull City to Middlesbrough to link up with Aitor Karanka, has been placed in temporary charge of the Smoggies while hey step up their search for a new manager. The North-East outfit find themselves 19th in the Premier League after failing to win a game since before Christmas, but their fate is still in their own hands as they are five points from safety with two games in hand to play.

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Man United are themselves struggling for momentum domestically, finding themselves in seventh place in the top flight and now five points adrift of a Champions League place. The Red Devils had been in sixth place for what felt like an eternity, constantly failing to take their chance to climb higher each time it arose, but Everton's impressive run of form has seen them slip down to seventh. That may look bleak, though a win today and all of a sudden they will be in fifth place.

It is fair to say that Mourinho was not happy with the timing of this match, coming in the earliest possible slot to appease the television companies, just over two days on from their meeting with Rostov in the Europa League - he has a point. United made the long trek to Russia 10 days ago and also had logistical issues when travelling to Chelsea last Monday, not returning to their base until the early hours of Tuesday morning, with those two matches coming just before that second leg with Rostov on Thursday.

Mourinho is now preparing his side for their 25th game since the start of December, a relentless run that has seen them compete on four fronts until defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup sixth round last time out. The Red Devils did lift the EFL Cup with victory over Southampton a few weeks back, though - often a precursor to further success when looking at Mourinho's previous list of honours. No chance of a domestic double following that loss at Stamford Bridge, but they are well on course to winning the Europa League.

United had to grind out their 2-1 aggregate win over Russian minnows Rostov on the European stage, coming at a cost following the loss of Pogba. Throw the absence of fellow midfield battler Herrera and leading scorer Ibrahimovic into the mix, all of a sudden the Red Devils are having to put out a patched-up side and will simply be grateful for another narrow victory today. Going all the way in the Europa League, with Anderlecht up next, is now the key target for Mourinho, who knows full well that Champions League football is a priority for next season.

Defeat to Chelsea earlier this week was just United's second in 33 outings, having out together an impressive unbeaten run since a quarter of the way through the campaign. They have a real habit of slipping-up in the league, however, after dropping points in four of their last six games to find themselves in this lowly position of seventh - well below the target set by Mourinho in pre-season. Stoke City, Hull City and Bournemouth have each taken points off the Red Devils this term, no doubt giving Boro real hope of nicking a result this afternoon.

Mourinho even predicted a defeat for his side today due to the fixture scheduling, but it is worth pointing out that his team have now gone 17 games without losing in the top flight, last being on the end of a defeat when falling 4-0 to Chelsea in October - the Portuguese's joint-heaviest defeat in management. United share the best defensive away record in the division, meanwhile, alongside runaway league leaders Chelsea, conceding just 12 goals overall and four in their last seven away from Old Trafford.

DID YOU KNOW? Manchester United could hit a landmark figure of 600 Premier League wins this afternoon, becoming the first side to reach that impressive figure. The Red Devils average 6.3 attempts on target per game this term - the most in the division - while Middlesbrough are at the opposite end of the spectrum with just 2.4, explaining why their goals-for tally is so poor. Zlatan Ibrahimovic accounts for nearly a quarter of those shots on goal, but he is of course out today.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Manchester United are unbeaten in eight league meetings with Middlesbrough since a 4-1 loss in October 2005, winning five and drawing three since then. The Smoggies have gone 12 without a win against the Red Devils in all competitions, although they did knock them out of the League Cup on penalties last season following a draw in normal time. United have scored in each of their last 12 games at the Riverside Stadium - their longest-such run against any side.

With kickoff at the Riverside Stadium now less than five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Steve Agnew: "I have to be honest, [Thursday] was a really difficult and emotional day. Aitor put in incredible work over the last three and a half years. I really enjoyed his work and his company during my two and a half years working with him. But today the players have trained well and we look forward to the weekend."

Jose Mourinho: "I don't think it's a funny situation. When I watch marathons and people go to their limit, I don't think it is funny, and I don't think it's funny some of my players in six weeks play 11 matches. We are living all these things and let's see if Sunday we get a point. That would be great result."

Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff just a matter of moments away. A chance for Manchester United to climb into fifth place with victory this afternoon, keeping alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, while Middlesbrough can close in on safety with an unlikely win of their own on home soil - the gap on Swansea City in 17th currently five points.

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KICKOFF! The hosts get us up and running at the Riverside Stadium for this midday showdown, looking to pick up a first win in over three months. United with three-centre backs today - Jones on the left, Bailly on the right and Smalling in the middle.

Good atmosphere being generated by the home fans for this early kickoff, knowing just how important this match is. Boro are seemingly down and out at the moment after losing six of their last 10, yet as mentioned earlier their fate is in their own hands.

SAVE! Big chance for Rashford to put the Red Devils ahead with just a handful of minutes played. The youngster was played clean through on goal, beating Bernardo for pace but failing to get the better of Valdes between the sticks.

Boro had actually started well enough, but they should be behind following that big chance for Rashford. Leadbitter opts to take on a shot from more than 30 yards out, sending his effort high into the stands.

Some really nice play from Boro, belying their lowly league position, as Fabio looks to slip it through for Negredo. A little too much pace on the former United player's pass, though, and it rolls straight out for a goal kick.

SAVE! De Gea is called into action for the first time today to keep out Ramirez's shot. Decent attempt from the Boro man, looking to curl one past the Spaniard from range but not getting enough on the ball.

Thirteen minutes into the match and it has been fairly balanced on the whole. Boro had that one Ramirez shot on target a few minutes ago, but is United who had the game's biggest chance - Rashford failing to beat Valdes when played through.

A league-low 65 shots on target for Boro prior to today, but they are already looking to make amends having tested De Gea inside the opening 10 minutes of this cagey match. The Red Devils trying to find their feet at the moment.

Rashford makes inroads into the box and looks to pick out Lingard just a few yards out, but Boro do well to block the ball for a corner. Fellaini meets the subsequent set piece but cannot direct it towards the target.

Boro having to do plenty of defending at the moment, with United now starting to find their groove. Rashford's pace in behind is proving a key asset at the moment, but he again fails to pick out Lingard when in space.

The inside-left is where United are having all their joy at the moment, which they have been unable to truly make the most of. Wing-backs Young and Valencia currently stationed high up the pitch on either flank.

SAVES! Valdes is no doubt looking to send out a message to his former side, which he has achieved already with another couple of saves. Mata gets in behind down the left and picks out Rashford, who is denied from just a few yards out. Valencia was there for the follow-up but he could not creep it past the former Barcelona keeper.

YELLOW CARD! Phil Jones is shown a yellow card by referee Jonathan Moss for running across Negredo to block his path. Negredo suggested that he took an elbow to the face but a caution was the right decision.

Lingard helps on a cross from Valencia but there is nobody around in a blue shirt to tap it in. United starting to dominate things now and look good value to open the scoring as we approach the half-hour mark in the North-East.

It has been coming! There are four red shirts inside the area and just one United player, but Fellaini gets on the end of Young's teasing cross at the back post to finally get the beating of Valdes. The Red Devils deserve that breakthrough goal.

Boro started this game well enough, testing De Gea with a stinging Ramirez shot, but they have failed to really trouble the Red Devils' backline since then. Still plenty of time to get themselves a goal, though, with two-thirds of the game to play.

YELLOW CARD! Adam Clayton stops Carrick from taking a quick free kick and is shown a yellow card. That Fellaini goal - a well-taken header at the back post - ended a run of 30 Premier League games without finding the net.

The home side have managed to step things up over the past few minutes at long last, sending a couple of teasing balls into the box. Ramirez blasts the ball across the face of the goal but United stand firm and clear their lines.

Rashford again uses his pace to get in behind, but Valdes - who has had a good half, despite conceding - produces a block to prevent the Englishman from cutting the ball back for one of his teammates.

Half time just four minutes away now, and United will be happy to hear the whistle to go into the break a goal ahead. They fully deserved their breakthrough but Boro are now coming out of their shells a little more in search of a response.

Any side will miss having their leading scorer up top, as is the case with United today, but Rashford's pace up top is proving to be their big asset in this first half. No real sign of a second goal arriving before the interval.

The whistle sounds for half time, with Manchester United boasting a one-goal lead over Middlesbrough thanks to Marouane Fellaini's header 30 minutes in. The Red Devils have created the game's best chances so far; the Smoggies' only real opening seeing Ramirez denied by De Gea from distance.

Marcus Rashford used his pace to get in behind Bernardo Espinoza with just five minutes played - a regular feature across the course of the afternoon so far - only for former United stopper Victor Valdes to pull off a big save. Boro's struggles this term have largely been down to a lack of attacking threat, attempting a league-low 65 shots on target in the Premier League prior to today, and their only effort of the opening 45 minutes saw Gaston Ramirez - restored by stand-in boss Steve Agnew today - kept out by David de Gea from distance.

Valdes was proving to be in inspired form as the first half transpired, producing two more saves in quick succession to keep out Rashford from a few yards out and Antonio Valencia's follow-up attempt. The deserved breakthrough did arrive for the visitors 30 minutes in, though, as Marouane Fellaini nodded home from an Ashley Young cross - despite four Boro players being inside the box to United's one - to end a run of 30 league games without scoring.

The Smoggies, without a league win since prior to Christmas, did step things up slightly after falling behind but they were unable to create any real openings in the remainder of the first half. Plenty of attacking options for Mourinho to turn to should he wish at the break, but it is opposite number Agnew who is more in need of a change in personnel at this stage.

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Guzan, Stuani, Fry, Guedioura, Gestede, Forshaw, Traore

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Rojo, Martial, Romero, Mkhitaryan, Shaw, Fosu-Mensah, Darmian

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RESTART! We are back under way at the Riverside Stadium, where the two sides remain unchanged for the start of this second half. Boro with it all to do, trailing to that first half Marouane Fellaini header.

Boro fans well up for this, it is fair to say, and they will take solace from the fact that United have dropped points to the likes of Bournemouth, Stoke City and Hull City over the past six weeks or so. Carrick does well to thwart Ramirez's charge into the box.

A second for United will surely settle things, but even a one-goal lead tends to be enough to beat Boro. Rashford slips the ball through for Valencia down the right, but the cross into the box is blocked behind.

United in the lofty heights of fifth place as things stand, just two points off Liverpool with a game in hand to play over the side directly above them. De Roon halts Lingard's charge down the right but somehow avoids a yellow.

Boro win a corner and the home fans get up out of their seats, but Ramirez's whipped cross is collected by De Gea. The hosts still showing very little in terms of attacking threat, with United currently sitting fairly comfortably.

The Smoggies calmly play the ball out of their own box when under pressure following a cross into the box from Mata. Martial among those being sent to warm-up, so we could well so a United change in the next five minutes or so.

United have now scored in 15-successive away games against Boro, incidentally, which is their longest-such streak against any club in the top flight. This second half yet to get going at the Riverside Stadium, neither side finding their feet.

Still waiting for this second period to spark into life. Very little action at the moment, which will suit United just fine as they sit on this one-goal lead, but they will not be able to breathe comfortably until finding a second.

United bag themselves a killer second goal, courtesy of an absolute gem from Jesse Lingard. The Englishman was allowed to charge towards the Boro box and put his foot through the ball under little pressure, picking out the top corner of Valdes's net.

SAVE! A rare attempt on goal for the hosts, as Negredo nods a cross from the right down the middle. De Gea was well positioned to deal with it, though, collecting the ball with ease to keep his clean sheet intact.

United hit their opponents on the counter but the attack breaks down. Up the other end, Negredo gets his head to the ball ahead of Jones but can only divert it wide of the target. Boro preparing to make a change or two now, with a quarter of the game left to play.

SUBS! A double change made by Agnew, as Traore and Gestede come on for Ramirez and Leadbitter, while Mourinho has turned to Rojo in place of Mata for the final 20 minutes or so. Traore's pace is much-needed on the Boro wing.

Boro enjoying arguably their best spell of the game so far, as a cross form the right is sent into a dangerous position but ultimately collected by De Gea near his front post. A goal for the hosts will certainly make things interesting.

Another cross from deep into the box, which Gestede appeared to miss when leaping high. Ramirez nearly pounced at the back post, but it ran past him and went straight out of play for a goal kick. Just 17 minutes left to play here.

This will go down as one of United's easiest wins of the season, taking the lead 30 minutes in following some strong pressure and never really looking like conceding since. Boro enjoying their best spell of pressure at the moment, though.

A first Premier League goal for Gestede since joining Boro in January makes it game on at the Riverside Stadium! Slack defending from the visitors, as De Roon gets to the ball ahead of Smalling and picks out Gestede, who prodded home from close range.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Lingard has picked up a knock to his hamstring and, after being patched up by the United physio, makes way for Martial. An end to his afternoon and potentially another withdrawal from the England squad.

That Gestede goal brought an end to 509 minutes without a goal for Boro. After looking so comfortable pretty much all afternoon, United now have to work hard in these final stages to hold on for a victory that will take them into fifth.

Agnew will be happy with the spirit shown by his side in the past 15 minutes or so, somehow finding a route back into the game and now giving their opponents something to think about for the remainder. Both managers have one change still available to make.

Boro fans will be hoping for one more chance in these remaining minutes. It has been a very quiet second half on the whole, with the only two real attempts ending with the ball in the back of he net. Worth mentioning that these sides have drawn more games than any other in the division - 10 apiece.

Jones with a clumsy tackle on Negredo inside the box, which for a moment looked like it could have been a penalty. Negredo kept going and hooked a shot when down on the ground, but was unable to test De Gea from his rare opening.

A little more frantic at the back than Mourinho would have liked late on, but they are doing what is required to get the job done. Negredo fails to make the most of the opportunity when picked out in the box, as we enter four minutes of added time.

Job done for United! It is a howler from Valdes, who slipped when attempting to blast the ball upfield. Valencia with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net on his 200th Premier League appearances.

Referee Jonathan Moss blows for full time, meaning that Manchester United move up to fifth in the Premier League table. Middlesbrough, who are five points from safety with a game in hand to play, did reduce the arrears with 13 minutes to play but it was the Red Devils who found the fourth and final goal of the match. Relief for Jose Mourinho, who punched the air in delight as he made his way down the tunnel.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Riverside Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the second Premier League fixture of the afternoon between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton are available here. Thanks for joining!