Viduka wants to go through on top

Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka is backing his side to head into the knockout stage of the UEFA Cup as Group D winners after taking the pressure off themselves with a battling draw in Holland.

The Teessiders turned in a defiant defensive display to claim a 0-0 draw with AZ Alkmaar and confirm their place in the business end of the competition when it resumes in February.

With seven points from their three games to date, Boro have put the onus on Louis van Gaal’s side – who were favourites to top the group after reaching the semi-finals last season – to win in Bulgaria next week.

AZ need a win against Litex Lovech if they are to have a chance of overhauling the Barclays Premiership outfit at the top in the concluding set of fixtures in December.

Van Gaal conceded after last night’s game, which saw his team fail to score for the first time in seven attempts at the Alkmaarderhout so far this season after collecting 24 goals in the previous six fixtures, that they might have to put five past Grasshoppers in their final home game to climb above Steve McClaren’s men.

Viduka knows just how significant the draw in Alkmaar could be, and believes the fact he and his team-mates can relax could work in their favour.

“We are pleased to be through,” he said. “It’s a big thing for us to be able to go into the next game and not to have to worry about having to qualify.

“We are satisfied because we are through. Alkmaar is not an easy place to come to. It was a good result. We didn’t play for the draw, but in the end we got the point and we are through to the next stage.”

Strike-partner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who helped to keep the AZ defence at full stretch on his return to his former club, was equally pleased with the outcome.

After seeing Boro go out in the last 16 last season to beaten finalists Sporting Lisbon, who in turn defeated the Dutchmen in the semis, he is hopeful of going further this time.

However, he is not looking too far ahead with Litex’s visit to the Riverside Stadium still to come.

“I don’t know how far we can go in this competition, but we have shown we have a lot of character and that this is a good team,” he said.

The draw brought a satisfactory end to an eventful few days in the club’s recent history following the announcement on Tuesday of McClaren’s decision to commit himself to another four years on Teesside and the imposition a day later on an 18-month ban on defender Abel Xavier for failing a drug test.

Chairman Steve Gibson was understandably delighted to see his club cement its blossoming reputation in European football.

“We are very pleased,” he said. “Before the game, we would have taken the point. They are a good team, but we played well against them and to qualify is excellent.”

After last Sunday’s 3-2 Barclays Premiership victory over Fulham, which saw Boro twice come from behind before Hasselbaink snatched all three points with an 84th-minute strike, the midweek draw kept the ball rolling.

McClaren will be hoping for another positive result when predecessor Bryan Robson returns to Teesside with his West Brom side on Sunday.

The Baggies bounced back to winning ways with a 4-0 demolition of Everton last Saturday and will hope Boro’s post-Europe blues strike once again as they attempt to bring a successful conclusion to a busy week.

“It’s very important for us to win,” said Viduka. “Last week, we got the three points and it would be good to keep that run going by winning again.

“We want to get higher in the table and hopefully we can do that after Christmas.”

McClaren will hope keeper Mark Schwarzer has recovered from a shoulder problem, although Brad Jones deputised superbly in Holland, while Gareth Southgate, Franck Queudrue, Stuart Parnaby, Fabio Rochemback and Aiyegbeni Yakubu will all be in contention.