Aside from a three-week period between December and January when they sat top of the table, Manchester United spent the majority of the 2003-04 campaign unsuccessfully trying to keep pace with Arsenal.
A decade ago today Middlesbrough made the trip to the North-West for a match that presented the hosts with the opportunity to cut the gap on the Gunners to two points.
However, in Boro they faced a side who had a better recent record than many at Old Trafford, having won two of their previous four matches there.
They would go on take their victory tally to three, thanks largely to Brazilian playmaker Juninho. He opened the scoring in the 34th minute after a mistake from United goalkeeper Tim Howard, before going on to head in at the near post from a Gaizka Mendieta cross four minutes later.
United responded just before the break when Ryan Giggs's cross was chested down by Louis Saha for his strike partner Ruud van Nistelrooy, who fired beyond the reach of Mark Schwarzer.
Boro refused to rest on their laurels, but despite their attacking intent, neither Stewart Downing nor Franck Queudrue were able to convert their headed chances early in the second half.
They were made to pay for those misses in the 63rd minute when Van Nistelrooy turned provider for Giggs to turn the ball in from close range to level up proceedings.
Many expected at that point that if there was to be a winner, United would be victorious, but the Teesiders defied the odds 10 minutes from time. Having collected possession on the edge of the area from Doriva, Joseph Desire-Job won a 50-50 challenge with Phil Neville. From there, he then struck a shot across Howard and into the bottom corner of the net.
It appeared that the Red Devils were going to equalise deep in stoppage when Diego Forlan was presented with a headed opportunity three yards from goal, but he somehow couldn't keep his effort on target.
MAN UNITED: Howard; O'Shea, Brown (P Neville), Silvestre, Fortune; Kleberson (Ronaldo), Scholes, Butt (Forlan), Giggs; Van Nistelrooy, Saha
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer; Mills, Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue; Mendieta (Parnaby), Doriva, Zenden, Downing; Juninho (Cooper); Job
Liam Apicella
