STEVE McCLAREN has rubbished suggestions that Middlesbrough are among the Premiership's relegation favourites after picking up only one point from their first four games.

The Boro manager admitted his "disbelief'' after his side had contrived to lose 3-2 to Leeds at the Riverside on Saturday.

Boro recovered from the shock of conceding an early goal to lead 2-1 before throwing the game away in the last 14 minutes.

They squandered a succession of chances to put the match beyond Leeds' reach and are now second bottom, level on one point with basement side Wolves and neighbours Newcastle, the Magpies having played a game fewer.

But McClaren refuses to see any early warning signs after defeats away to Fulham and at home to Arsenal preceded a goalless draw at Leicester last week.

He stressed: "Arsenal, Man. United and everybody else has been in this sort of situation.

"There are only four games gone, and if you looked at things at this time last year, Newcastle were struggling and Man. United were in the bottom half and yet they finished top.

"It's over 38 games, not four. We just have to keep doing the right things; we are improving our performances.

"We were poor against Arsenal, we got a great point at Leicester and the performance against Leeds was even better.

"On another day, we would have scored five or six and won comfortably. People saw the quality we have. The frustrating thing is that it has taken us until now to get that quality.''

Right-back Danny Mills made his Boro debut after signing on a season's loan from Leeds and Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta was given his first Riverside run-out.

Boro also confirmed the capture of Holland star Boudewijn Zenden on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

McClaren said: "It will take time for Mendieta, Mills and Zenden to bed in. Once we get other players fit, we'll be OK.

"Mendieta made his debut at Leicester and did well. He's someone the fans will take to immediately. He's got great creativity and will score goals.''

Zenden, 27, was unveiled to the fans before kick-off and is expected to make his debut in the game at Bolton a week on Saturday.

The former Barcelona winger, who rejected a move to Newcastle two years ago to join Chelsea in a £7.5m deal, admitted he was a casualty of the Roman Abramovich revolution at Stamford Bridge.

Zenden, mindful of next summer's European Championships, said he feared losing his role in the Dutch squad after falling further down the pecking order at Chelsea amid the scramble for places triggered by new owner Abramovich's £100m spending spree.

Paris St. Germain were also courting Zenden, who admitted: "I had a lot of offers, but talking to the manager here really made a difference.

"Middlesbrough have been very persistent for the last two or three weeks and gave me a really good impression.

"Everyone knows what the situation is at Chelsea. With the amount of players there, you have to take turns to play. It's not the best preparation for the European Championships. That was the main reason for me coming to Middlesbrough. I knew it was going to be difficult for me at Chelsea.''

Boro, however, were out of luck with a renewed move for Inter Milan's Stephane Dalmat.

The French midfielder was expected on Teesside for talks but instead agreed terms with Tottenham on a one-season loan.

* Boro full-back Stuart Parnaby suffered suspected knee ligament or cartilage damage when he was carried off early in the second half on Saturday.