MASSIMO MACCARONE is winning his battle to convince the Middlesbrough faithful that he was worth the club record £8.15m Steve McClaren gambled on him nearly two years ago.

The rejuvenated Italian striker, whose despair at one point forced him to consider a loan return to Empoli, grabbed his sxith goal of the season and third in five games in an emphatic victory which secured Boro's fourth straight home success.

Maccarone, still only 24, also had a hand in goals for Juninho and Szilard Nemeth as the Teessiders stretched their unbeaten run to five matches.

They recovered from an uncertain start to produce a barnstorming Bank Holiday show for a 30,000-plus Riverside audience.

Juninho ended a lean spell in front of goal to make the breakthrough in the 23rd minute. Danny Mills pumped the ball up to Maccarone, who played a cute reverse pass into the path of Nemeth and when the Slovakia star performed a drag-back to the near post, keeper Antti Niemi could only push Juninho's first-time finish into the roof of the net.

It was Juninho's ninth goal of the season and his first in as many games.

Maccarone then prompted Boro's second in the 31st minute when he burst down the left and held off centre-back Claus Lundekvam before Niemi slid in to clear at his feet and Nemeth followed up to rifle home his eighth goal this term.

After all his endeavour, it was only fair Maccarone should enjoy some tangible reward himself.

And it arrived only four minutes into the second half when he guided a right-foot shot into the far corner of Niemi's net after Franck Queudrue had carved out the opening on a surging run.

Saints skipper James Beattie reduced the arrears in the 70th minute after an error of judgement by Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Stephen Crainey's left-wing corner was headed skyward by Mills and when Schwarzer flapped at the ball, it fell invitingly to Beattie, who crashed in a volley despite the best efforts of Queudrue to nod off the line.

But Juninho might have restored Boro's three-goal advantage five minutes later when he received a return ball from Gaizka Mendieta's brilliant flick to force a desperate one-handed save from Niemi.

Having had almost a full team unavailable for the hard-fought goalless draw with Chelsea on Saturday, manager McClaren was able to recall right-back Mills, recovered from illness, and midfielder Bolo Zenden, who was barred from playing at Stamford Bridge under the terms of his loan from his parent club.

Kevin Phillips, who Boro tried to sign before his £3.25m move from Sunderland last August, was predictably a target for the Boro boo boys every time he touched the ball.

But the Saints made an enterprising start and when Rory Delap delivered a clever back-heel to David Prutton, the former Boro and Newcastle fancy let loose a 20-yard effort that flashed just over the angle.

Boro initially struggled to find their rhythm; George Boateng twice overhit routine passes into touch and there were ironic cheers from the home fans when he located Mills with a square ball.

But McClaren's men suddenly came to life in the 14th minute - and never looked back. Mendieta's brave header set Nemeth free to run down the middle, but his long-range effort was blocked by Paul Telfer.

Mills then hoisted a diagonal ball out to the overlapping Queudrue, who beat his marker to aim a cross for Maccarone, but the vigilant Danny Higginbotham was there first to turn the ball away.

The bustling Maccarone troubled the Saints with his movement and verve, but when he worked himself a sight of goal on the edge of the area in the 17th minute, his shot was well off target.

Juninho had a go from similar range with an effort that dipped over before Maccarone charged down the left, beat two men on the byline, but met his match when Niemi gathered his attempted centre at the near upright.

And Juninho's strike a minute later was just reward for a welter of Boro pressure.

Niemi looked less than assured when he fumbled Mendieta's shot moments later before claiming the ball at the second attempt.

But Boro were then grateful to Maccarone when he blocked on the line from Phillips' flick after Delap had fired Crainey's corner into the danger zone.

Teenage midfielder Yoann Folly came round the back of defence to snuff out a chance for Juninho after the ball broke loose from a Maccarone-Telfer tussle.

But Maccarone's menace undid the Saints again for Nemeth to double Boro's lead.

Mendieta also had a big influence, blazing narrowly wide of the near post from the edge of the area before setting up Nemeth to drill a shot into the body of Niemi close to the break.

The Finn was soon under fire again after the restart and was powerless as Maccarone put Boro out of sight.

Niemi then had to save at his near post from Juninho after Maccarone had released him.

Saints boss Paul Sturrock introduced Marian Pahars for Fabrice Fernandes and the little Latvian had an immediate impact with a measured cross which Beattie glanced wide.

Juninho then went down in the penalty area after a challenge by Higginbotham, but referee Dermot Gallagher didn't want to know and the defender looked accusingly at the Brazilian as he rose to his feet.

Southampton unexpectedly pulled one back through Beattie, but it was very much a crumb of consolation.

Result: Middlesbrough 3 Southampton 1.

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