THERE is something about Manchester which Aitor Karanka must like – and so do Middlesbrough.

If leaving the blue half of the city smarting from a cup shock last season wasn’t enough, more than 10,000 travelling Teessiders celebrated as the Red Devils took their turn to be left embarrassed by brilliant Boro.

In the same year as Manchester City were dumped out of the FA Cup at Middlesbrough’s expense, Karanka looked on at Old Trafford as his players dug deep to force the Capital Cup fourth round tie to penalties – and then joined in the celebrations after an incredible shoot-out victory.

Grant Leadbitter, Stewart Downing and Ben Gibson all scored from the spot in front of the huge away following in the East Stand who all chanted songs about Wembley until long after the final whistle after Ashley Young, like Wayne Rooney, had been denied by stand-in keeper Tomas Mejias.

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Middlesbrough, who lost to Liverpool in a dramatic shoot-out last season in the same competition, actually had chances to win the tie in normal time, particularly when Grant Leadbitter went clean through at the death.

But similarly Manchester United had great chances of their own in the dying stages of extra-time through Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini, but Middlesbrough had to rely on penalties to finish the job and set up a home tie with Everton in the quarter-finals.

Very few people could argue that Middlesbrough, with aspirations of joining United in the Premier league next season, didn’t deserve the breaks they got after an incredible defensive display, particularly from Daniel Ayala and Co.

Ayala and the Middlesbrough backline were warriors from start to finish and were ably assisted by the men in front of them, with Leadbitter and Jack Stephens making life difficult for the men from Manchester.

If Middlesbrough wanted any extra encouragement to stun Old Trafford then the starting line-up named by Louis van Gaal should have given them just that – so long as they didn’t look down to the bench.

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Van Gaal made nine changes to the side which drew with Manchester City at the weekend, with David de Gea, Juan Mata, Martial, Rooney, Young, Ander Herrera and Bastian Schweinsteiger forming a formidable list of substitutes.

Karanka, who spoke beforehand of taking this tie seriously despite bigger ambitions of promotion, was certainly dressed to impress in his suit and he sent out a team more than capable of getting a result.

Downing was recalled as one of five changes to the team which started at Wolves on Saturday and it was from his 16th minute corner which should have saw Middlesbrough take the lead.

Downing’s delivery to the back post was headed back in to the danger area and Jack Stephens, making a rare start in the heart of midfield instead of Adam Clayton, attempted an overhead kick. Despite getting his angles wrong, the loose ball fell for George Friend and he rolled a low finish into the hands of goalkeeper Sergio Romero when he ought to have done better.

That chance arrived just moments after the touching tribute to Teesside’s steelworkers, when more than 10,000 Middlesbrough fans – and a few among the home sections – shone torches in support of those to have lost their jobs.

And there was also a performance from the players wearing yellow to light up a first half which could easily have seen Middlesbrough edge ahead. Manchester United had a couple of chances, with young striker James Wilson testing Mejias with the best of them.

Other than that, and a strong block from Friend to deny Fellaini, Middlesbrough were just as effective if not more so in the final third. The best save of the first half was from Romero when he made a flying one-handed stop to deny Downing’s netbound 25-yard rocket.

There was a late scare before the break but Mejias raced off his line to comfortably gather as Wilson threatened to latch on to Fellaini’s through pass. If Manchester United were to avoid a shock, it seemed the star names on the bench would have to be called upon.

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And van Gaal’s first move was to take off Wilson, with England’s all-time record goalscorer Rooney the man asked to provide a greater attacking threat in the penalty area after an opening half in which Ayala and Gibson kept things together at the back.

After Mejias was fortunate to see a the shot he spilled from Memphis Depay stay the nice side of the goalline from a Middlesbrough perspective, the visitors all celebrated the opening goal of the game only for it to be ruled out just before the hour.

It was a bizarre one too. When Friend’s flick in to the path of Kike caught out the United defence, the Spanish striker’s effort curled against the far post and towards Daley Blind. The Dutch defender’s attempt to clear saw him volley straight beyond Romero, only for the official to flag for offside.

Nevertheless it gave the travelling Middlesbrough fans a huge lift at a time when Manchester United, who then introduced the more attack minded Young to play full-back, had greater intent and were following instructions to shoot on sight.

And Middlesbrough kept plugging away. Once Romero had almost helped Blind’s routine back pass in to his own net, the Argentine keeper had to make a near post save to deny Leadbitter – and that prompted van Gaal in to calling £36m man Martial to save the day.

But with Ayala a power of strength at the back, Manchester United’s only significant chance arrived when Lingard’s drive crashed against Mejias’ left hand upright. Middlesbrough broke and how they didn’t score before the end is beyond every single member of the away support.

The best of the late opportunities arrived when Stephens sent Leadbitter clean through. He only had the keeper to beat but chipped his shot straight in to the arms of Romero, who then made a stoppage-time block from Downing. Extra-time followed.