Boro Gunning for Cup revenge

Steve McClaren voiced his desire to achieve semi-final revenge over Arsenal after Middlesbrough’s penalty shoot-out victory against Tottenham secured a place in the last four of the Carling Cup.

Boro were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal in The FA Cup semi-finals in April 2002, when only Gianluca Festa’s own goal separated the two sides.

McClaren’s mind immediately turned to that frustrating day at Old Trafford when he learned they had been drawn against Arsene Wenger’s side in January’s two-legged Carling Cup semi-finals.

He declared: “People tell me that it’s Arsenal, which takes me back to The FA Cup semi-final that we had a couple of years ago.

“That was a tight affair and we expect another one. But whoever you play in the semi-final, it’s a tremendous occasion.”

McClaren added: “We just have to keep on going forward and that’s 10 games unbeaten now. We have to make sure that run continues.”