MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren last night labelled his side's miserable goalless draw with Charlton an "endurance test'' for players, fans and TV viewers alike.

His opposite number, Alan Curbishley, claimed that the fear of failure in the Premiership is killing the quality in many games, and McClaren admitted: "It wasn't a classic.

"I think it was as bad for us as everyone else. It was a poor performance, an endurance test watching it and, for the players, not the best game to play in.''

McClaren felt that the trauma of the tragic death nine days ago of defender Colin Cooper's two-year-old son, Finlay, had affected his players' performance.

"I was worried, after the week we'd had, that we weren't ready for this game,'' conceded McClaren.

"Emotionally and physically, the players looked drained, and I can fully understand that after what they've been through and how much it has affected them.

"They did well to put it aside when we won at Sunderland on Tuesday but, without making excuses, it was always going to be a difficult game.

"Charlton matched us and it was never going to be pretty. We're disappointed with the performance, but if you'd said to me a week past Saturday that we'd be in the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating Manchester United and have picked up four points in the League, I would have been happy with that.

"The players performed magnificently against Man United and Sunderland, but this proved one game too far.

"We made a lot of errors. You always try to look at the positives, but there were very few.

"Mark Crossley kept a clean sheet again and Gareth Southgate has won another bottle of champagne.''

McClaren added: "We're in a position where we have to fight for every point.

"There's only five points separating third bottom from mid-table, so there are a lot of teams involved who can get sucked into the battle at the bottom.

"Therefore, it's not conducive to entertaining football.

"What we're hoping to do is go on a run which takes us clear of trouble.

"We've got 27 points now with a game in hand which we need to win. We've set our stall out to be difficult to beat.

"We haven't scored many goals, so we have to make sure we don't concede many.''

McClaren reported that Southgate took a bang on the head, Jason Gavin a smack on the nose, and Robbie Stockdale "tweaked'' a hamstring.

Striker Alen Boksic, missing from the starting line-up since Boxing Day with a calf injury, could be in contention for Saturday's home game against Leeds.

"He's trained well, but he needs a few more days and we're looking to involve him this week,'' said McClaren.

After failing to land Diego Forlan and Dwight Yorke, McClaren has now been linked with Celtic striker John Hartson.

"We need to score more goals,'' he said.

"That's something we're searching for, and as you've seen with the activity over the past weeks, that is ongoing.''

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