STEVE McCLAREN is convinced the watching Sven-Goran Eriksson will have been impressed by the displays of Middlesbrouigh duo Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu.

England boss Eriksson was sat in the stands at the Valley and he witnessed Boro lose 1-0 to Charlton Athletic.

With Sol Campbell and John Terry being the only centre-backs who seem to have their places booked on the plane to the European Championships this summer, Southgate looks to have a strong chance of going to Portugal.

Ehiogu, whose season has been plagued by injury, could still force his way into Eriksson's plans with Jonathan Woodgate and Rio Ferdinand out of action and Wes Brown out of sorts.

And, after Boro's match at Charlton, McClaren said: "Gareth and Ugo kept the Charlton players at bay really well.

"I don't know whether their goal was a fluke or not but after that I don't think they had a shot."

Since Boro won the Carling Cup on February 29 they have won one and lost two. Their opponents that day, Bolton, are yet to win.

But McClaren, who was hoping Boro would win at the Valley for the first time since 1994, is convinced his side can finish the season well.

"The mentality is always difficult after cup finals and Bolton are showing that," he said. "It's difficult to tell the players to put the medals away but they have done that.

"We were excellent against Tottenham and excellent here. There are targets and there are ten games to go with 30 points to play for. If we keep playing like that we will collect a fair number of points."

Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta observed a minute's silence - along with both sets of players - in memory of those who lost their lives in the Madrid bombings on Thursday.

Mendieta was withdrawn in the second half and McClaren insisted that the player wanted to start the match.

"He was always keen to play," said the Boro boss. "He picked up a stomach strain against Tottenham and that's why we took him off after an hour."