MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has slapped a ban on talk of his side's historic Carling Cup final win in a bid to silence any whispers of a relegation battle.

McClaren was furious when Boro crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Birmingham last Wednesday, only three days after lifting their first major trophy against Bolton at the Millennium Stadium.

Boro have also qualified for Europe for the first time in their 128-year history.

But, with his side just seven points clear of a bottom-three spot, McClaren yesterday cracked the whip ahead of tonight's visit of Tottenham.

Boro marked their Cup final success with Sunday's victory parade on Teesside. McClaren said: "It was very good, but I have spoken enough about that day and the celebrations.

"As we have said to the players and the staff, talk of the Cup is now banned. There will be no photos going on the wall, no signatures and no talk of the Carling Cup. It's finished and we move on. We have to refocus the players and get back to League action.

"We have gained respect by winning the Cup and people will want to come here now and beat us, and the players must recognise that.

"The ones who played a major part in it have to put their medals and memories away; the ones who didn't have to fight to get into the team because the competition is strong in the squad at the moment.

"I was disappointed at Birmingham, there were no excuses, and we have to be right against Tottenham.''

The game is an "official flag night'' when fans are encouraged to bring along their flags and favours.

But the Cup won't be on show. "As I've said, we've moved on from that,'' stressed McClaren. "The match programme has Cardiff on the front - I don't think we'll ever get away from it.

"We've said to the players they must concentrate and forget all that. There are 12 games to go and this is a new season for us.

"We can make history again by beating 52 points, our highest total in the Premiership, and our highest finish, which was ninth.

"We were close to doing that last year, and we have to try to achieve that again. That would be a successful season, but we're miles away from that at the moment.

"The season is not a success yet for me. It will be when we have achieved something in the Premier League. We have six home games left and the possibility of winning every one of them, but we have to improve our form here, which has been poor of late.

"The players have sat down, had a meeting and set their targets for the season, which is great for me. What the target is will probably stay in the dressing room. All I have to do now is drive them towards that.

"We're looking forward, we're not looking over our shoulders. We're seven points from the bottom three, but six points from the top eight. We can go one of two ways and it's up to us, and that's what we've said to the players.

"If we win, and get on to 34 points after 27 games, that will be the best any Middlesbrough side has achieved at the same stage in the Premier League. It drives me crackers and annoys me when I look at the points we've lost, especially at home where we haven't been ruthless enough.

"It's going to be interesting to see the reaction of the players. Winning the Cup should be an inspiration and give them confidence and belief.

"They are a good team. What we have to do is go from being a good team to a very good team.''

Right-back Danny Mills begins a two-match ban for accumulating ten bookings, which also rules him out of Saturday's game against former club Charlton at The Valley.

Andrew Davies and Stuart Parnaby stand by, while Juninho and Gaizka Mendieta, rested at Birmingham, are expected to return.

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