McClaren feels Boro in with a Sporting chance

MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren hopes the club’s Premier League demise will serve as a wake-up call to his players but fears the season is beginning to take its toll.

Since the turn of the year Boro have won just one of their nine league matches, securing just seven points, to slip from Champions League hopefuls to outside the top six, leaving their ambitions of a return to Europe next season balancing on a knife-edge.

It is a run McClaren concedes is simply not good enough but, in the light of the club’s injury woes, has been unable to freshen up a team that is struggling physically to cope.

Given the problems, Boro would hardly appear to be in the best shape to face Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their UEFA Cup last-16 tie at the Riverside tonight.

But McClaren feels the incentive is there for his men to raise their game over the two legs, with the return next Thursday at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, venue for the final in May.

“This is a good chance to put things right,” said McClaren.

McClaren concedes it is “a blessing” the club are no longer in the FA Cup as it gives him a free weekend to prepare for next Thursday’s return.

With few big-name clubs left in the competition, the way would appear to be clear for a run to the final, however, McClaren is piling the pressure on the Portuguese by declaring them favourites to progress.

“This competition has opened up but these are two tough ties now,” added McClaren.

“Sporting Lisbon are one of the giants of European football, are technically very good as all Portuguese sides are, while they score goals and have a great record in Europe.

“But we don’t need to get too heavy in this game, we just need to try to play a little easier and play our game. We’ve a good home record this season, losing to only Manchester United and Chelsea. We just have to make sure Sporting don’t join them.

“We need to make sure that going into the second leg we’re in with a chance, so we need a clean sheet and to score a goal. That’s the main aim.

“If that doesn’t happen and it’s 0-0 or 1-1 here, and we’re still in with a chance of winning the second leg, then we are quite capable of going away and getting the result we need.

“But overall we’re confident, even if this is another level we are moving onto in Europe.”

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will play providing there is no reaction to the knee injury which has kept him out of the club’s last two matches.

McClaren, though, has doubts over right-back Michael Reiziger, who has an ankle knock, as well as Ray Parlour, while he continues to be without a number of key players.

Mark Viduka and George Boateng are both back in training after hamstring and toe injuries, but are not yet ready to return, while Ugo Ehiogu, Gaizka Mendieta and Malcolm Christie are long-term injuries.