THE TELEGRAPH - RONALDO AND ROONEY RULE ROOST
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, both 19, showed the sort of form that one day will ensure they take their places alongside the legends of Manchester United.
A packed ground roared and swayed to their magic on an evening of standing ovations. Rooney's goals, one an astonishing 30-yard chip, and Ronaldo's circus act were the moments to treasure.
Maybe the Premiership challenge has faded. Perhaps AC Milan in the Champions' League is too difficult for United to feel a glow of confidence. Whatever, they strode into this skirmish as though getting to Cardiff in May was the only thing that mattered.
They flew into the task, winning almost every 50-50 contest for possession and with Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs at their mesmerising best, there was a lot of chasing for the Middlesbrough defenders.
Ronaldo, still a teenager but maturing quickly, could not be pinned down. On either flank and occasionally down the middle he showed there is much more to his game than the clever step-over. He is developing into a trickster with a brain.
Hardly surprising, then, that a couple of steps belonging to the Bolshoi ballet featured in the build-up to John O'Shea's 10th-minute goal which came at the end of sustained pressure.
A cross from Quinton Fortune brought panic to the Middlesbrough defence and the sight of Ronaldo alighting on the ball gave them palpitations. His attempted flick through brought the luck he deserved when the ball bounced off Middlesbrough's Bolo Zenden for O'Shea to thrash the ball past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
There was no let-up in the pressure, with Middlesbrough confined to their own half and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink isolated as a lone striker. The man containing him, Rio Ferdinand, caused a minor flutter when he lost possession. It gave Middlesbrough their first sniff of a chance but Roy Carroll, who had been given nothing to drop, produced one of those all-is-forgiven saves.
It was an isolated incident and before long Giggs was warming Schwarzer's hands with a stinger while Ronaldo, continuing his theme of back-heels, chips and dummies, put Rooney away to force a save from the goalkeeper.
THE INDIE - THE ROONEY AND RONALDO SHOW
If Malcolm Glazer didn't know much about the FA Cup before yesterday, he does now. The American tycoon, who is reportedly about to launch yet another bid for the Lancashire giants, will have seen just what it means to Manchester United this season after a performance that had Cardiff written all over it.
Wayne Rooney was the hero of this fourth-round waltz with two wonderfully taken goals, although the dancing dream that is Cristiano Ronaldo did its utmost to steal his show. And some show it was as Sir Alex Ferguson's men set about proving to all that for them this season, with the title seemingly heading towards west London, the old competition is one they will be taking ultra-seriously.
Indeed, unusually in the early rounds of a cup competition not bearing a European prefix, there was more than a hint of the first team about United's line-up. Granted there was no Roy Keane providing his customary snarl to ward off any pesky magic that might be swirling in the cold night air, but that was because of suspension rather than any conservation policy on Ferguson's behalf.
After the Exeter experience, rotation is seemingly a movement that Ferguson can no longer risk taking, although in 90 minutes where Middlesbrough were sent running aimlessly in circles, the United manager might have imagined that his kids would have not have to rise far above their station against these visitors.
With Ryan Giggs playing that roving role in behind Rooney as the lone attacker who rarely fails to put the fear of all that is holy into the opposition, and with Ronaldo very much in party-piece mood, Middlesbrough were the wannabe gatecrashers locked firmly in the pantry.
THE SUNDAY TIMES - UNITED MASTER CLASS LEAVES BORO IN A SPIN
After Sir Alex Ferguson, in defeat, raised a glass of wine with him in midweek, Jose Mourinho said the old Scot had a lot to teach younger managers about how to lose. Ferguson, though, can still hand out lessons in how to win.
Steve McClaren, his former protege, has plotted victories against Manchester United in each of the past three seasons, but here he was given a tutorial in tactics and a masterclass in attacking football by his one-time mentor. Middlesbrough could never get to grips with the fluid forward line Ferguson sent out, one which involved Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs swapping roles and positions. They also took it upon themselves to exchange places on centre stage, with their demonstrations of virtuosity.
First you thought that Giggs was man of the match and then instead perhaps it was Ronaldo. Finally the laurels were snatched away from both of them after some late marvels from Rooney.
Two extraordinary goals from the £30m starlet sealed the result. The first, after Gary Neville played him clear with a top-grade pass, saw Rooney look up and find Mark Schwarzer off his line. He could have taken the ball on into an easier scoring position but the challenge was too ticklish to resist.
Rooney wanted to see if he could beat the goalkeeper with a lob and, without breaking stride, and from 35 yards out, he played the most delicious nine-iron of a football shot over Schwarzer’s head. The weight was so perfect that the ball did not bounce until after it crossed Schwarzer’s line.
Rooney’s second involved him springing on to a Louis Saha flick, and burying a volley in Schwarzer’s rigging with a thunderous first-time strike. The way Rooney opened his body up before making contact, said an admiring Steven Gerrard, was reminiscent of Marco van Basten.
THE OBSERVER - ROONEY DOUBLES DELIGHT
Wayne Rooney two fabulous goals to send his side into the fifth round, but United are going to have to be a lot sharper than this to put one over Arsenal on Tuesday.
They probably will be. Any less sharp than this would count as sleepwalking. Rooney's late double flourish sent the crowd home happy enough, but by that stage Middlesbrough were practically begging to be put out of their misery.
With the amount that gets invested in United-Arsenal meetings, an FA Cup tie against Premiership opponents three days before is far from ideal preparation and, with Boro weakened by injuries, there was a feeling both sides wanted the game over as quickly and painlessly as possible.
It was a good thing Cristiano Ronaldo kept the crowd entertained with a succession of runs and brilliantly improvised tricks, otherwise spectators might have been demanding their money back. Then again, perhaps Ronaldo was always going to stand out in a midfield where Phil Neville, John O'Shea and Quinton Fortune had been asked to try to cover up the absence of Roy Keane .