THREE points in the bag for Middlesbrough, at last.

It has taken some doing but Steve McClaren finally guided his side to their first win of his managerial career against West Ham at the Riverside.

This was no fluke either. Boro were superb throughout and perhaps the only disappointment for the fans was they still hold a relegation place.

But they are not bottom and that must be encouraging for the Teessiders, who go into tonight's clash with Leicester City knowing a second victory would see them climb out of the drop zone.

McClaren has been saying all along that they will come good but the critics have been mounting. On Saturday, however, he was proved right - albeit against a poor West Ham side.

And the Hammers' young striker Jermain Defoe, a second half substitute, will be wishing he had kept his mouth shut.

Defoe, an England Under 21 international, may have a bright future but he will have to learn to watch what he says.

The 18-year-old had stated before the encounter that it was a good time to play McClaren's men.

But Boro skipper Paul Ince, a former Upton Park favourite before moving to Manchester United in a £1m back in 1989, revealed that spurred the home side on.

"He should not be saying things like that," said Ince, who also took a swipe at West Ham boss Glenn Roeder.

"I would just like to say thanks to Jermain for the words he said.

"It is not his fault because he is just a kid. A young lad like that should not be saying things like that because all it does is give the other lads a lift.

"On Friday at the training ground when we were reading the papers we saw what Defoe had to say about it being a good time to play us.

"The manager should not be allowing a young player to say that. We just wanted to show them and we did that."

Ince was at the heart of everything for Boro and it was his cross from the right that led to Brian Deane out-jumping West Ham's stranded keeper Shaka Hislop to head the opening goal afte 31 minutes.

The 33-year-old's leadership in the middle of the pitch continues to be inspirational.

Sven Goran Eriksson was at the Riverside and Ince is probably not in the England manager's plans, but he is currently vital to Boro's cause.

There were rumours of Ince being one of the first players to be shown the door by McClaren, but the former Inter Milan midfielder would be extremely difficult to replace.

When he faces West Ham he knows what to expect - a barrage of abuse from the Upton Park-outfit's fans.

But Ince said: "I must have had a good game because they stopped booing me after about 20 minutes!"

He insists that despite the jibes he believes West Ham still hold respect for him, adding: "Apart from Bobby Moore I am the most decorated player to come out of West Ham.

"The medals I have won and the success I have had at the highest level all count for something, but I remain an East London boy.

"So I know that deep down they have got a little respect for me and for what I have done.

"But the boos don't bother me. There are worse things in the world going on - the last week has just proved that - it puts everything into perspective."

From Mark Schwarzer in the Boro goal up to Dean Windass and Deane in the attacking third, the hosts grew in confidence as the game went on.

McClaren's belief in playing an orthodox system is certainly being welcomed by his players, who look to be forging a stronger unit with every minute on the pitch.

Perhaps Deane's header was a little fortunate, but the big man has now had two impressive displays in a row in the absence of Croatian Alen Boksic.

The second goal also had an element of good fortune after 41 minutes.

West Ham defender Rigobert Song's dreadful header allowed Allan Johnston to nip in and lob Hislop nonchalantly from just inside the area.

Boro had further opportunities to add to their lead.

The most notable was when Jonathan Greening's right-foot shot hit the side netting after beating Svetoslav Todorov, Don Hutchison and Joe Cole.

Roeder's tactics of not having one recognised striker in the starting line-up resulted in his side hardly having any chances to reply.

Cole had one effort saved by Schwarzer.

West Ham's hopes were further dashed when £5.5m signing Tomas Repka was shown the red card on his Premiership debut 11 minutes before full-time for his second bookable offence.

But this was a day for McClaren to enjoy his first win in the top-flight.

And now he will be aiming to ensure they keep on the winning track, starting tonight at Filbert Street.

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