FRUSTRATED Steve McClaren last night urged his Middlesbrough players to focus on Manchester United after witnessing his side let victory slip from their grasp in the last few seconds at Ewood Park.

An injury-time leveller from Markus Babbel secured a point in a 2-2 draw but McClaren is convinced Boro are ready to take on United at the Riverside tomorrow.

Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant at Old Trafford indicated full back Danny Mills should have shaken off illness in time for the visit of the Red Devils.

McClaren said: "Man United played a weakened team, I think, against Everton and I'm sure that shows the respect they are coming to us with. They know we normally give them a good game and it should be a good one.

"Danny had bronchitis but I thought Andrew Davies did well. But Danny should be fit for Sunday."

He added: "We are very disappointed in the way we let the lead slip. It was a blow because it was a good performance by our team. We played some great football and I thought we controlled the game after going a goal down."

McClaren, whose side have not lost since the defeat to Newcastle on October 18, is hoping that his squad try to learn from their mistakes in future matches.

Two goals from Juninho, who is now the club's leading scorer with four goals, had ensured Boro looked destined to secure the three points after cancelling out Babbel's opener, which brought to an end Boro's seven-match top-flight clean sheet run.

McClaren said: "We have to see the game through from that sort of position. We have learned the lessons now and we have got a great game to look forward to on Sunday.

"We defended well after their first goal and it is one of those things the way we let this go. But we have gone 11 games unbeaten now. It was a great away performance and it was great second goal from Juninho."

Juninho, who scored his first goal since November 1, was replaced by Jonathan Greening when he was hoping for a chance to score a hat-trick.

McClaren explained: "We felt we needed an extra man in midfield so we took him off. We were playing an attacking line-up and I just thought we could have done with taking him off."

McClaren also paid tribute to striker Michael Ricketts and winger Bolo Zenden, who was impressive in the middle of midfield.

He said: "Michael did very well and he has become a presence for us up in the final third. He is getting better and we are pleased with him.

"Bolo controlled and dominated that area in the middle and I thought we looked a very good team with him in there."

Blackburn coach Tony Parkes, standing in for manager Graeme Souness in the after-match press conference, tried to paint a brighter picture of the home side's display.

Rovers are still struggling at the wrong end of the table and will go into the New Year facing a relegation fight regardless of tomorrow's result, when they make the trip to Newcastle United.

Parkes said: "I think we deserved the draw because I thought we played reasonably well. They could have killed it off at times but they didn't and in the end we made sure of a point.

"It doesn't really matter that Markus' goal came in the last minute.

"A goal is a goal and if you don't win then a draw can be good psycologically."

Blackburn are hoping defender Craig Short will have shaken off flu in time to play the Magpies at St. James' Park.

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