Soccer: Boro must try to be fantastic - McClaren

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren challenged his players to bring the crowds flooding back to the Riverside Stadium after tasting derby glory.

Goals from home debutant Frank Queudrue and a second from Alen Boksic, whose header was helped past Thomas Sorensen by Sunderland defender Jody Craddock, gave the Teessiders just their second Barclaycard Premiership win of the season on home ground.

But such has been their form on their own patch in recent months that only 28,422 fans were there to witness it and a healthy proportion of them had made the short trip down the A19 from Wearside.

Those who did turn up were rewarded as Boro produced some of their best football of the season to date and McClaren was delighted with the backing they gave his side.

Now he has told his players that only producing that type of football to clinch similar results at home will see the Riverside stands packed to it’s official 35,049 capacity and that is exactly what he wants.

‘‘I’ve just got to say a word for the fans,’’ he said. ‘‘I thought they were absolutely magnificent.

‘‘Now every game, it is up to us to provide the type of football that makes them come back. The type of support they give when the players really need it gives them such a lift.

‘‘We know we need results and if we keep getting results and keep performing, then the crowd will come back. It’s entirely up to us.’’

Such was the delight on Teesside at the win that McClaren was treated to sustained chanting of his name, although he modestly played it down.

However, before the weekend trip to in-form Tottenham, Boro and their manager will at least be able to reflect briefly on a night when, despite skipper Paul Ince’s dismissal, they were more than a match for their local rivals.

McClaren threw exciting Argentinian teenager Carlos Marinelli into the mix and he did not disappoint. Queudrue looked assured, while Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu did a superb job of marshalling Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn.

Marinelli is desperate to show what he can do and the supporters are equally keen for him to be given his chance, with McClaren admitting that the youngster is causing him real selection problems.

‘‘He’s certainly posed a question and it’s something we’ll be looking at over the next few days,’’ said the Boro boss. ‘‘Carlos is a tremendous player and he’s still got a lot to learn.

‘‘He’s still very young - he’s only 19 - and there’s a long way for him to go, but if he continues progressing like he is, he’s giving me a headache, which I welcome.’’

Sunderland boss Peter Reid was, meanwhile, happy with the way his side rallied in the second-half, but admitted that they had left themselves too much to do.

Now they must re-group for the visit of high-flying Arsenal to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, although he insists it is not all doom and gloom.

‘‘If we’d got three points, we’d have gone seventh or something like that,’’ said Reid. ‘‘I can understand the supporters being frustrated and I am as well.

‘‘But it’s not the end of the world. We just need to get a good result against a very good side on Saturday.

‘‘You go through sticky patches teams do and the only way through it, in my experience, is working hard and concentrating on your play, and that’s what we’ll be looking at.’’