LAST action hero Mark Schwarzer has delivered a defiant message to Middlesbrough's supporters by insisting the club will smash more records after claiming a back-to-back place in the UEFA Cup.

Up until this season Boro had never tasted competitive football on foreign soil and their first foray into European competition ended with a place in the last 16.

The point secured in an afternoon of high drama at Manchester City on Sunday ensured there will be a repeat run in the UEFA Cup next season, and hopes are high they can surpass their debut campaign's achievements.

To earn the right to play for the trophy for successive years represents another best for Boro, who up until 15 months ago had never even won a major piece of silverware.

But now, having finished seventh in the Premiership for the first time and hitting a club record points total in the process, Schwarzer insists Steve McClaren's side can continue to reach new barriers.

"It's a massive achievement for this club to play in Europe again. We are re-writing the history books all the time," said Schwarzer, who pledged to sign a new two-year deal recently because of his belief success can be sustained at the Riverside.

"At a club like this we are in a position where we can keep re-writing the history books year on year - that is why being at a club like this is so good.

"The boost from getting seventh place will be still here for the long term. The town will be buzzing and it will help the club bring in new players again.''

It was Schwarzer's injury-time heroics at the City of Manchester Stadium that ensured Boro retained a slender grip on the final UEFA Cup spot by claiming the necessary point against the Blues.

The Australian international got down to his left to deny Robbie Fowler's spot-kick when it mattered.

With so much at stake Schwarzer admits there have been few more crucial stops he has made during a career that has taken him all over the world.

"It's up there as the most important save I've ever made - that's for sure," said Schwarzer.

"In last year's Carling Cup final I did make a couple and they stick in my mind as well.

"They were up there in importance - in a different sort of way - because I made a bad mistake to let Bolton score which got them back into the game.

"But Sunday's save rates up there because to know, from me making that save at that stage, we are in Europe again is fantastic for me personally.

"It is a tremendous boost to us all to know we are in there again next season. We don't have to go through the Intertoto Cup and that is a relief."

Schwarzer's talent may have grabbed the headlines but he is in no mood to take all the plaudits - insisting the whole squad need to take the credit for finishing in a European spot when a series of injuries have restricted the number of times Boro's best XI has been available.

"To think the race for seventh went down to that penalty save is unbelievable. But we deserved to do it when you think about what we have done," said the 32-year-old.

"When you think about the players we have had out and the number of young players we have had to use and test, it's a phenomenal achievement."

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