STEVE McCLAREN declared he was 'delighted' with his side's battling UEFA Cup victory at the Riverside Stadium, writes Will Scott.

The Middlesbrough boss saw his side lose a goal after only seven minutes - Boro's first in the UEFA Cup on home soil - but managed a sigh of relief when his charges hit back either side of half time to win and set up a mouth-watering tie against Sporting Lisbon.

"We're in the last 16 in Europe and I'm delighted," admitted McClaren. "It was never going to be an easy game, it wasn't. We got the result and now the competition is starting to get interesting."

The home side contrived to put their fans through the mill and were fearing the worse when the Boro defence gave an exercise on how not to defend in the lead up to Grazer's opening goal.

Michael Reiziger, Mark Schwarzer's and Gareth Southgate contrived to hand the visitors the lead, but McClaren wasn't too concerned, as the goal was early enough for them to hit back.

He said: "The result and the two away goals last week were all important. I said before the game we would have to score two to go through. It didn't matter whether they scored one. Fortunately it was nice and early and gave us enough time to recover.

"The first half was very difficult but full credit to Grazer. They came with a game plan and knocked every ball forward and caused us problems in the first half.

"That is why we made the changes at half time. I felt that although we weren't under pressure, I felt that we weren't going to concede because the three centre backs defended well and headed everything out.

"The goalkeeper punched and caught the crosses and we needed a platform where we wasn't going to concede, and we had that.

"And then we looked dangerous on the break. If we had better quality we would have won by more goals."

McClaren changed the shape of the side at half-time when he withdrew both Joseph Desire Job and Morrison to play five across the centre of midfield and left Hasselbaink as a lone striker.

"The most important thing was the result and now it's history and we're through. We needed to be stronger down the middle," he admitted. "With three centre backs and Doriva just in front I felt it gave us a good platform and stability, and a springboard for attacks.

"We did that and although you feel worried at 2-1 I just felt we weren't going to concede. We've always got a chance with the quality of players and speed on the break, and we did it with a tremendous finish from Jimmy. He is proving very important for us. We're now in the last 16 and now it gets serious for us now. Sporting Lisbon won't be an easy game."

Boro are host to Charlton on Sunday , but both Stewart Downing and Morrison are doubts.

Downing tweaked his hamstring and Morrison went off at the break with a groin strain.

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