MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren is warming up for a fight to clear his name and avoid a touchline ban after being charged by the Football Association for improper conduct.

McClaren, who confirmed he has requested a personal hearing, was given until December 15 to object to the charge he was hit with for his half-time protestations to referee Phil Dowd during last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.

After the whistle had blown, the Boro boss walked onto the pitch and remonstrated with the official after full-back Franck Queudrue was shown the red card for a two-footed lunge on Spurs' Noe Pamarot.

But McClaren has since learned he has been charged by the FA for his actions and he is desperate to deny what he is alleged to have done.

"It's very difficult to say anything at the moment because that will obviously be for the personal hearing, but I felt it was very unjust," said McClaren, who ironically is employed by the FA as Sven Goran Eriksson's assistant coach with England.

"I don't think I am guilty and there's not much more I can say about it.

"If finger-wagging makes me guilty then I am guilty - but of anything else? Foul and abusive language? No chance. I will be going down and pleading my case. I didn't swear at the referee.

"I just stated my opinion at half-time and entered the field of play to keep the players away from the referee to keep them away from anymore serious trouble."

McClaren was incensed after Queudrue was shown the red card but has since retracted and believes the player was too aggressive in the tackle.

The French full-back is suspended for Monday night's Premiership clash with Manchester City as well as the games with Southampton and Aston Villa.

And McClaren is weighing up whether to play Tony McMahon, Colin Cooper or Michael Reiziger out of position in Queudrue's absence.

But whatever side McClaren does pick he insists his squad are high on the news that they are through to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup in the club's first adventure into European competition.

Egaleo's draw with Lazio in Group E on Thursday night ensured Boro progressed, while the draw between Partizan Belgrade and Villarreal also meant the Teessiders can finish top if they beat Partizan on December 15.

Despite knowing a potentially mouth-watering place in the third round awaits - a stage when the Champions League losers enter the fray - McClaren insists he is not getting too carried away with Boro's chances of winning just yet.

"How far can we go? Ask me after we have played Partizan and see if we finish top, ask me then," said McClaren.

"All I know is that the players now have something to look forward to in February.

"It's great news. It's fantastic for the club. We wanted to do well in the competition and to get through is fantastic.

"We knew it would be a tough group and winning the first two games put us into a great position. That has proved the case.

"But we would still like to perform at home when Partizan come here and finish top of the group. The players will be buoyed by the news."

* Kevin Keegan is ready to break the habit of a lifetime and make defensive solidity the key to Manchester City's revival.

The Blues head to Boro on Monday looking to record their third successive Premiership win and consolidate a place in the top half.

Unusually for a team under Keegan's charge, City have been more convincing at the back than the front this term.

With just 14 goals conceded, the Blues boast the fourth-best defensive record in the top flight.

He said: ''If you take the four goals we conceded at Newcastle out of it, we have only let in 10 in 14 games, which is a great record.

''Admittedly, we are not playing with as much attacking force as I would like but we just haven't had the personnel to do that.

''We have ended up playing to our strengths, which is to stay solid at the back, build from midfield and try to stick our opportunities away when we get them.''

Read more about Middlesbrough here.