MIDDLESBROUGH are closing the class divide on North-East rivals Newcastle, according to boss Steve McClaren.

The Teessiders travel to St James' Park tomorrow looking to cement their position in the Premiership's top seven, an achievement that if sustained or bettered in the next three games would see them qualify for Europe for the second successive season.

Newcastle, on the other hand, are struggling in the lower reaches of the league and have seen their hopes of glory evaporate following the UEFA Cup quarter-final exit to Sporting Lisbon and the drubbing by Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

Sunday's 2-1 reverse against the Red Devils in the league, following on from their last minute loss to then-bottom side Norwich leaves them in 14th place.

So while the only European action Graeme Souness' men are likely to see is on TV, McClaren's side, thanks to the 4-0 win over West Brom at the weekend, can at least hope of Europe.

But it still seems to be the black and whites, and not the red and whites, who find themselves in the headlines, though news has been more bad than good.

While agreeing that that is the case at the moment, McClaren says he believes the men from the Riverside are making inroads into their rivals' grip on publicity.

"Newcastle have sustained their success and have had it over many, many years. They are a massive club," said McClaren. "I think we have progressed each season and I think the breakthrough was winning the Carling Cup.

"We have got into Europe and we have hardly been out the top six or seven all season.

"You could say that yes, Newcastle, because of the stature of the club are always going to get the headlines. But we have come along nice and quietly, won a trophy and got into Europe. It would be nice to finish the season by qualifying for Europe again and they might starting talking about Middlesbrough a bit more."

McClaren doesn't take any satisfaction from witnessing the unsavoury events on Tyenside, preferring to concentrate on keeping his own house in order.

"We have done well this season. We are still going well in the league. We don't look at others, whatever Newcastle have had to cope with. We don't look at that. All we are looking at is qualifying for Europe," he said.

"The league is your bread and butter and we have grown.

"We have never been out of the top seven all season and we have always been in the bottom half every other season. So that's progress.

"We have got a great opportunity to challenge for that seventh spot.''

Read more about Middlesbrough here.