MIDWEEK goal hero Laurent Robert had to settle for a place on the bench as Sir Bobby Robson once again rang the changes for the trip to Middlesbrough.
Lee Bowyer got the nod on the left side of midfield in place of the Frenchman - going head-to-head with ex-Leeds team mate Danny Mills - while Nobby Solano wasn't in the 16.
Shay Given, Alan Shearer and Gary Speed all returned to the starting line up having been rested against NAC Breda, while Aaron Hughes came back at right back in place of Andy Griffin.
Given made a fantastic save with just two minutes gone, diving to his right to palm away Mendieta's header from Mills' cross from the right.
Boro won a free kick two minutes later in a dangerous position on the right after Mendieta was sandwiched between Speed and Bernard, but Zenden's inswinger was easily dealt with by Given.
O'Brien's slip on eight minutes saw the ball break to Nemeth with just Given to beat, but Given stood up well and made the block as the Slovakian tried to dink the ball over him.
Bowyer's cross was deflected for a corner off Southgate on 14 minutes, but Schwarzer easily gathered the flag kick from the former Leeds man.
Moments later Speed was booked for a foul on Christie in a central position 25 yards out, but Queudrue's free kick was deflected for a corner off the wall. United failed to clear the corner and Nemeth won another one seconds later, but this time the danger was cleared.
It was all Boro in the opening 20 minutes, and Doriva was next to try his luck from distance after a good break down the left but Given made the save.
But despite spending the majority of the game on the back foot, it was United who took the lead on 21 minutes through Ameobi. Speed chested the ball ahead of him after a cross in to the box, and Ameobi reacted quickly to swivel and shoot past Schwarzer.
United looked far more confident after going into the lead, and it was boro who had to defend for a spell as Dyer, Jenas and Bowyer all took turns to bomb forward.
Dyer had a shot deflected off Mills from just inside the box just after the half hour, then Ameobi's header was well off target after Hughes' cross the ball in.
A foul by Queudrue on the right flank just inside the byeline saw United win a free kick, and Bramble's header from Bowyer's cross was well held by Schwarzer on his line.
Five minutes before the break Given had to change direction quickly to keep out a low drive fromk Doriva that had deflected off O'Brien as he tried to close the shot down.
United had a lucky escape a minute later when Zenden swung in a corner, and Given somehow kept out Queudrue's header, then when the full back reacted quickly to get the rebound his effort took another deflection and clipped the crossbar.
Both sides struggled to get going in the second period, and the majority of play in the first 10 minutes of the second period was centred around a crowded midfield.
Doriva's attempt at a long range drive flew yards wide of the target on 57 minutes, the Bernard got in a good challenge to stop Mills in his tracks as he tried to launch an attack down the right.
Boro did well to clear the danger as Bowyer's free kick caused a goalnmouth scramble, with Southgate eventually booting the ball clear as Shearer tried to poke the ball goalwards.
O'Brien became the second United player to be booked on 63 minutes when he fouled Christie in front of the dug-outs, then moments later Boro midfielder Doriva was shown a yellow card for tugging back Dyer.
Southgate fouled Shearer out iwde on the right on 66 minutes, but when Bowyer swung the ball in Boateng rose highest in a crowded box to head clear.
Boro boss Steve McClaren made three changes in a bid to get something from the game on 69 minutes, with Doriva being replaced by Juninho, Maccarone coming on for Nemeth and Greening replacing Zenden.
Bramble's foul on Christie gave Boro a free kick and earned the United man a booking, then Given did well to grab Mills' header from a corner after Boro tried to put the visitors under pressure.
Christie poked the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box after Greening picked him out on 75 minutes, then on 78 minutes Laurent Robert replaced Bowyer.
Queudrue headed over the bar from Mills' cross with 11 minutes remaining, then the home fans were appealing for a spot kick when Bernard and Mendieta tangled in the box the referee wasn't interested.
United carelessly lost possession in midfield with seven minutes left, and when the ball ended up inside the United box a great block from Speed but Juninho off his shot and the Brazilian blazed over the crossbar.
Maccarone's foul on Bernard on 86 minutes saw him become the fifth player cautioned by referee Mr Wiley, then Southagte was lucky to escape with a caution when he scythed down Shearer as the United skipper tried to keep possession on the touchline.
A similar foul by Queudrue seconds later on Shearer, this time further up the line towards the corner flag, saw Newcastle get another free kick but Robert's set piece was cleared.
Boro were clearly frustrated as the game slipped away from them, and Mills went into the book as the game went into four minutes of injury time for a wild lunge on Bernard.
United won another free kick right in the corner when Greening shoved over Shearer, as united held on to take the three points.
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06.10.2008 - Senior Star To Get Ressie Run Out
