STEVE McCLAREN believes history is beckoning Middlesbrough towards their first major honour.

McClaren, who led Boro to an agonising FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal in his first year in management two seasons ago, is aiming to go one better when the sides meet again on the trophy trail in the new year.

A two-legged Carling Cup semi with the Gunners is a doubly daunting assignment for McClaren's men.

To add intrigue, they are now scheduled to face Arsene Wenger's title-chasing side three times in as many weeks, visiting Highbury in the Premiership on Saturday, January 10 and returning 11 days later for the first leg of the cup tie.

Boro more than matched Arsenal at Old Trafford over 18 months ago as the Gunners headed for the double, the Teessiders only losing to an own goal by defender Gianluca Festa.

Like his predcessor Bryan Robson, who took Boro to three losing cup finals in two seasons during his seven-year reign, McClaren is driven in his quest to become the first man to bring them significant silverware.

The former England coach's nerves have been shredded as his side have gone to the wire in successive penalty shoot-outs against Everton and Tottenham.

But his resolve remains intact and, with glory again coming within touching distance, McClaren declared: "This club has never won anything - and it's about time they did.

"Reaching the semi-final is vital for the club and tremendous for our profile. It's excellent for everyone connected with the club.

"The last semi we had in the FA Cup against Arsenal was terrific for the fans and the town, and it will be terrific again.''

Boro left-back Franck Queudrue put Boro through against Spurs at White Hart Lane on Wednesday in a sudden-death shoot-out after the recalled Michael Ricketts had rescued the tie five minutes from the end of normal time.

Ricketts, a former Spurs target, almost won the game in the dying moments before the match went into extra-time, when keeper Kasey Keller pulled off a miraculous save from the striker's header.

It was only injury-plagued Ricketts' third goal since his £2.5m arrival from Bolton Wanderers in January, and Queudrue said: "I was delighted for Michael. It was good for him to score.

"I really don't know what to think of the Arsenal game. We have an important match at Birmingham on Saturday to concentrate on and lots more before we begin to think about the semi-final.''

Ricketts was also the first Boro player to score in the shoot-out. Juninho, Bolo Zenden and Danny Mills were then successful before Gaizka Mendieta was denied by Keller.

Midfielder George Boateng admitted: "I'm proud of the guys who took the penalties. I wouldn't have had the guts to stand there. If I'd had to go up, I would have done - but I was eighth in line by the way!''

Meanwhile, Boro right-back Danny Mills has been cleared by the FA over his clash with Charlton's Paolo di Canio at the Riverside last Saturday.

Di Canio was left with blood pouring from a head wound after Mills' touchline challenge.

But Mills found an unlikely ally when the Italian striker later insisted there was no intent on the part of the England international, and dismissed the incident as "an accident''.

The FA's video advisory panel studied footage, but decided Mills had no case to answer.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.