STEVE McCLAREN last night paid tribute to the way Massimo Maccarone has overcome his Carling Cup final heartbreak after the Italian striker inspired Middlesbrough to a victory that leaves them only four points off a Champions League place.

Maccarone was a tearful wreck after being confined to the bench for Boro's historic Carling triumph over Bolton at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium at the end of February.

But he has since gone about shedding his misfit tag with three goals in his last five starts, the latest in yesterday's impressive 3-1 home victory over sorry Southampton.

McClaren said: "Maccarone's performance was a massive plus for us. What has impressed me is his huge reaction from the Carling Cup final where he was disappointed not to be involved. He got his rewards in this game.

"Most players would have gone in a huff, but it's character-building, he's a young player who came here with great ability and he's starting to show that now.

"Players have to deal with things. They get help and support from the coaches and the manager, but they have to do it themselves and Massimo is working out for himself how to get over things and how to get better, and that's what's pleased me.

"He's taken it all on board and he's showing great character in coming back and playing like he did here.

"After his first year with us, he realised it was a physical league and he's been working on his fitness all season and is starting to get the benefits.''

Boro produced some glorious attacking football, with Juninho and Szilard Nemeth handing them a 2-0 half-time lead and Maccarone playing a part in both goals before scoring himself early in the second period.

McClaren admitted: "I actually enjoyed that - and you don't enjoy many games sat on the sidelines. I enjoyed the quality of our football, the passing, the chances we created and the three goals. We could have had more.

"I think if Juninho had scored when he linked with Gaizka Mendieta and Antti Niemi made that save in the second half, it would have been goal of the season.

"Since the new year, the players have grown in confidence and the good players here, like Mendieta, Juninho and Maccarone, are playing well.

"The first five games of the season hampered us, but we clawed our way back into contention and out of the last 33 games we've only lost seven.

"We want to finish higher than ninth, which would be our best Premiership finish, and beat the club's best points total in this league, which is 52.

"We're on target and we need to make sure we finish the job. The players set the targets. They've created history once already this season and they want to do it again.''

Southampton boss Paul Sturrock said: "I'm very disappointed. In the first ten minutes we looked quite lively, but things went from bad to worse.

"When you don't play to your strengths and the other side's quality players come to the fore, you've got serious problems.

"We made some fundamental defensive mistakes, but Middlesbrough are a good side and they proved that."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.