AFTER two games, no goals and just one point, the temptation to strengthen the Middlesbrough squad with players who do not top Steve McClaren's wishlist may prove strong.

Never one to underestimate his own ability, George Boateng believes the club should fight that temptation.

McClaren has highlighted the Boro midfield as an area needing a boost with Sporting Lisbon's Rudolph Douala still on the wanted list, and Boateng was quick to throw his hat in the ring for scouting duties on McClaren's behalf.

At White Hart Lane the home side's 2-0 win exposed weaknesses in the Teessiders' defence and attack and Boro's midfield enforcer was more than happy to give his opinion of exactly what McClaren needs.

"There is no pressure on the manager (to make more signings) and I am delighted we have not brought anyone in who is 50 per cent as good as players already in the squad," said the 29-year-old.

"I see no point in having a midfielder next to me who is half as good as I am. I want somebody who is going to compete with me, someone who's going to be better than me and so I have to step up a gear.

"This is why the club shouldn't just go out and buy anybody. You want players who will improve the squad.

"When the time is right I have no doubt the manager will deliver a good player - whether that's now or in January.

"The squad we have now can easily go through to January. If we get a player who will improve the squad then great."

On Saturday Boateng was up against Spurs new signing Edgar Davids and a player who many see as an England midfield squad player at the World Cup in Germany next year, Michael Carrick.

Despite Boateng coming out of the game with his reputation intact he was still far from happy fellow Dutchman Davids hogged the headlines in the build up.

"I am not scared of anybody in this league - I am very confident," said Boateng. "Before the game people were more worried whether Edgar was going to play or not.

"People forget my abilities. He's (Davids) a big player, a big name, but I'm not scared of anyone.

"We had the same before the Carling Cup Final. It was all who's going to pick up JJ (Okocha). I said 'have you forgotten its Bolton v Middlesbrough not JJ v Middlesbrough'.

"Today was the same. He's (Davids) a good player but I thought I did enough and he and Carrick did not cause me any problems."

There is a certain degree of truth in Boateng's synopsis. Boro didn't lose Saturday's game in midfield.

They lost it because they failed to convert several clear cut second half chances and Mark Schwarzer gifted Spurs their second by allowing Mido's weak effort to roll under his body.

After a first half memorable only for referee Martin Atkinson allowing Michael Dawson a free kick at Yakubu, the game exploded into life thanks to Jermain Defoe's superb 49th minute opener.

Picking up the ball in midfield he ran at Gareth Southgate who didn't close him down and the England striker cracked a 25-yard effort just inside Schwarzer's left hand post.

That must have impressed the watching England boss Sven Goran Eriksson, and Boro winger Stewart Downing was keen to show the national coach his qualities.

Five minutes later he had the chance only for England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to do his own impressing, pushing Downing's free-kick from just outside the area round his left hand post.

Boro refused to be disheartened and with substitute Mark Viduka directing operations up front, they had chance after chance to equalise.

Boateng, Downing and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were all guilty of profligacy in front of goal after good work from Viduka.

With quarter of an hour left McClaren unveiled his reckless side switching to a back three as his side searched for an equaliser. It all went horribly wrong 90 seconds later.

Defoe broke again and fed the impressive Mido on the right of the Boro box. The Egyptian's effort on goal, however, was more back pass than bullet shot.

Schwarzer had it covered all the way until it squirmed beneath his body - Ouch!

"Our performance was very good but we made mistakes at both ends," said McClaren. "We failed to take numerous chances.

"We created enough to get something from the game so to lose 2-0 is hard to take. We felt at one goal down we could afford to take a defender off and a minute later it backfires with a mistake for the second goal.

"We can't afford mistakes like that because it loses us football matches but people at the other end had gilt-edged chances are just as guilty as Schwarzer who'll get the headlines."

For those Boro fans suffering early season nerves, McClaren's side had just one point at the same time last year.

For those who believe in omens they also lost 2-0 at Spurs last term with a 49th opener from Defoe and a second in the 76th minute but they still finished above Martin Jol's side to claim their UEFA Cup spot.