LONDON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal in Manchester United's hard-fought win over Middlesbrough on Monday to keep alive the Premier League champions' title defense.

    Berbatov volleyed home in the box on Michael Carrick's cross inthe 69th minute.

Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov (2nd L) shoots to score against Middlesbrough during their English Premier League soccer match in Manchester Dec. 29, 2008.

    Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Park Ji-sung had all squandered chances before Berbatov's winning goal.

    After the game, Manchester United remain seven points adrift of leader Liverpool, but with two games in hand.

    "We are in a good position come the turn of the year," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "We have two games in hand, both at home, and it is going too be a great run in."

    Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate said he could draw a lot of positives from the performance despite losing.