A CRUCIAL strike from Mark Viduka saved Middlesbrough after they had gone AWOL for the second half against a midfielder renowned for his vanishing acts from the Riverside Stadium.

With seven minutes remaining of last night's UEFA Cup first round tie with Greek minnows Xanthi, Viduka's powerful strike was deflected into the net by centre-back Jacques Paviot.

The Australian's goal was Boro's second of the evening, after George Boateng had given his side a first half lead, and has given the Premiership club a little more breathing space ahead of the return leg in two weeks.

In the end it was a decent, albeit not great, result for Steve McClaren's men against a Xanthi line-up who will count themselves unlucky not to have scored a vital away goal.

Brazilian Emerson, who spent 18 controversial months in the North-East during Bryan Robson's days in charge, was never a fan of the Teesside weather and went missing on four separate occasions before leaving for Tenerife in 1998.

And Boro's current crop combined last night to make sure it was not a happy return to the Samba star who was given a warm reception by the fans who used to cheer his every move.

Xanthi had finished fourth in the Greek league last season but, despite a number of impressive results including overcoming Olympiakos, had won just twice on their travels throughout the entire campaign.

The signing of Emerson in the summer was seen as a major coup in the Thrace district of Greece and it was a player of that calibre they had been looking to lead their surge into Europe.

Like Boro, this is only the second time the tiny club - whose home ground holds just 7,500, almost half the attendance of last night's match - had played in the UEFA Cup.

The first time was three years ago when they succumbed 5-0 to Italians Lazio.

And, in light of the opposition and the fact there is a Premiership fixture at Wigan on Sunday, McClaren risked the possibility of a surprise result by resting skipper Gareth Southgate and left-back Franck Queudrue.

That offered both Matthew Bates, whose first start ended with a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on the second day of the season, and Austrian Emanuel Pogatetz the chance to shine.

Viduka was also recalled to the front-line at the expense of Aiyegbeni Yakubu.

Viduka's strike-partner Massimo Maccarone had been on the verge of leaving for Italy in the summer but is enjoying the second chance currently being offered by McClaren.

After one of his best displays in a Boro shirt for more than 18 months against Arsenal on Saturday, the one-time Italy international has a renewed sense of belief about his game.

And, after left-back Ioannis Papadimitriou had misplaced his back pass, Maccarone was the man who intercepted but could not keep the ball in play after rounding the keeper.

But the 25-year-old was instrumental in the goal which gave Boro the platform to take a small step towards the group stage of the competition.

Viduka's neat pass over the top was exquisitely taken by Maccarone's first touch, leaving the hapless Papadimitriou sprawled on the floor.

The club record buy's shot was turned into the path of Boateng by Petr Pizanowski and the Dutchman, the furthest forward from a pretty negative midfield quartet, had the simple task of side-footing into the net, as Pizanowski scampered across the six yard box.

Boro had always looked the more likely side to score but, despite plenty possession and neat passing, Xanthi's Czech keeper was not tested anywhere near the number of times he should have been.

In fact the only other Boro player to test Pizanowski before the break was teenage winger Adam Johnson.

Even Johnson's weak left foot shot from 25-yards, after cutting inside right-back Vasilis Torosidis, rolled rather than flew into the hands of the keeper.

Immediately after the restart Boro's intention was clearly to add to their lead rather than preserve it, but that soon petered out. Boateng went close seconds in when his effort deflected wide.

Xanthi, however, had not travelled thousands of miles to lose the tie after the first leg and had a spell when they should have levelled matters on the night and grab that important away goal.

The lively figure of Levan Maghradze caused problems with his trickery and had one shot straight at Mark Schwarzer, while he also fired narrowly wide after dodging both Bates and Ugo Ehiogu.

Emerson, after creating space with a neat drag back, blasted over from distance and striker Stavros Labriakos should have done better from 12 yards after side-stepping his markers.

The exact reasons why Boro lost their foothold on proceedings was strange, although the lack of pace offered by the midfield quartet - particularly after Johnson had been withdrawn on the hour - certainly didn't help.

Boro knew the importance of increasing their advantage and McClaren introduced Yakubu and James Morrison. Yakubu had two decent efforts on goal - the best when he headed Doriva's centre at Pizanowski - but the elusive second did not seem like arriving.

But Viduka pounced seven minutes from time to make the most of some slack defending from Paraskevas Antzas and the Aussie's shot deflected off Paviot and over the keeper.

An important goal if ever there was one.

Result: Middlesbrough 2, Xanthi 0.

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