Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford by a young Middlesbrough side.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's missed penalty proved costly, as United dropped two points and left the door open to Liverpool to clinch second-place and automatic Champions League qualification.
Van Nistelrooy stepped up after Lee Cattermole's handball - but Brad Jones brilliantly saved his spot-kick.
Otherwise United were short of ideas in front of goal and clearly missed the injured Wayne Rooney.
The draw pushes United a point clear of Liverpool in the race for second place in the Premiership, with one game left.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men also have a better goal difference than their rivals from Merseyside, and a win at home to Charlton on Sunday will clinch them second spot.
But Ferguson must hope for a better performance from his side than the one he saw here, with Boro creating as many chances as the home side.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards: "We started slowly but in the second half we showed far more urgency and we should have won the game.
"They made it difficult for us but we get a lot of teams doing that and it is up to us to break them down.
"Ruud van Nistelrooy's penalty miss was disappointing. You expect him to score but we let them off the hook." Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren also said: "I am delighted with the result and delighted with the performance.
"Our performance against Everton with a very young team was excellent and we didn't get the result. It was excellent here and we got a decent result.
"The team is maturing. We are a young side but it is getting experience and we are growing in belief."
Ruud van Nistelrooy's missed penalty proved costly, as United dropped two points and left the door open to Liverpool to clinch second-place and automatic Champions League qualification.
Van Nistelrooy stepped up after Lee Cattermole's handball - but Brad Jones brilliantly saved his spot-kick.
Otherwise United were short of ideas in front of goal and clearly missed the injured Wayne Rooney.
The draw pushes United a point clear of Liverpool in the race for second place in the Premiership, with one game left.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men also have a better goal difference than their rivals from Merseyside, and a win at home to Charlton on Sunday will clinch them second spot.
But Ferguson must hope for a better performance from his side than the one he saw here, with Boro creating as many chances as the home side.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards: "We started slowly but in the second half we showed far more urgency and we should have won the game.
"They made it difficult for us but we get a lot of teams doing that and it is up to us to break them down.
"Ruud van Nistelrooy's penalty miss was disappointing. You expect him to score but we let them off the hook." Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren also said: "I am delighted with the result and delighted with the performance.
"Our performance against Everton with a very young team was excellent and we didn't get the result. It was excellent here and we got a decent result.
"The team is maturing. We are a young side but it is getting experience and we are growing in belief."
