STEVE McCLAREN has learned to live with Middlesbrough's boo-boys and suggests the criticism aimed at Sir Alex Ferguson in recent weeks proves even the best managers are not immune to fans' frustrations.

Manchester United boss Ferguson heads to the Riverside Stadium this evening for a game that comes at a time when he is under pressure from the club's supporters to turn things around quickly.

United, who last won the Premiership title three seasons ago, are already ten points adrift of reigning champions and current league leaders Chelsea.

The 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Old Trafford seven days ago saw Ferguson and his players barracked by fans as they walked off their home turf - something Boro have also had to get used to.

Boro have won just one of their five matches in front of their own supporters and ironic chants of 'McClaren for England' have been heard from certain sections of the Teesside faithful on a few occasions.

But the former United No 2 insists football managers, no matter what they have achieved over the years, have to be ready to deal with bad vibes coming down from the stands.

"It's astonishing Sir Alex should have been the brunt of fans' (frustrations), but it's a bit of a trend at the moment and that's the case everywhere around football," said McClaren, aiming to ensure his side build on the midweek Carling Cup triumph at Everton.

"It used to be at the end of games supporters would show their dissatisfaction, but now it's a trend. During the game, at half time and whenever, there can now be dissatisfaction.

"No one seems to be exempt from it, not even the great managers like Sir Alex. That's the business we're in, that's football at the moment.

"There are expectations from everybody, they want instant success. But there are no grey areas any more. It's always black and white, you're either a great manager or you're hopeless, but most of us are somewhere in between and we'd all admit that.

"He's had it before. He knows how to come through it and deal with it.

"If anyone can get it right, he will. He's very thick skinned - you have to be as a manager - but I don't think anyone likes the criticism."

McClaren believes the major factor in Boro's failure to enjoy a good run of form this season has been an inability to field, or find, his best starting eleven.

With Ugo Ehiogu out with the knee injury picked up at Everton and Gareth Southgate not due back from a groin problem until after the international break, changes will have to be made again for the visit of the Red Devils.

But as well as finding the players to fill the gaps left by the absent, the Boro boss must also decide which formation to play with, meaning further tinkering.

McClaren was impressed with the five-man defence that kept a clean sheet at Goodison Park but is tempted to switch back to playing the lone striker against United, despite chairman Steve Gibson's recent admission of his dislike for that way of playing.

Regardless of Gibson's wishes, the facts are that the one-striker option has worked well for Boro in recent years against top opposition, including a 2-0 win over Arsenal this season and a 2-1 success at Old Trafford a year ago.

McClaren would prefer to play the less complicated 4-4-2 system but the long-term injury to Stewart Downing means filling the left-side of midfield continues to cause problems.

"We've struggled for consistency of shape, struggled for width, struggled to get two strikers in the team," he said. "We've had to change because of the amount of games we've had.

"We tried three at the back against Everton and defended well. That allowed us to play two strikers. I'm not saying that's the way forward all the time, but it's good that it worked.

"Maybe because we've struggled to find consistent personnel, because of the injuries, and no great width, due to the loss of Downing, hasn't helped us at home. Away from home width is less important and it has shown."

Since leaving Ferguson's side at Old Trafford in the summer of 2001 to take over from Bryan Robson in the North-East, McClaren has enjoyed better luck than most against his former boss.

He has tasted success on four separate occasions against United and still remembers his time there with great fondness, particularly as he was on the coaching staff for the European Cup triumph in 1999.

Despite United's failure to keep up with big-spending Chelsea, McClaren is backing Ferguson to enjoy more success before he does eventually retire.

"I had three great years working with Sir Alex. I learned an awful amount from him, but I'm also my own man. Working at such a great club is a fantastic experience," said the England assistant boss, who is still yet to sign a new contract at Boro.

"I listened to Sir Alex talking and everything's a challenge to him and building this Man United team to be as great as it was is another challenge to him. I would never rule it out either."

* Boro pair Mark Schwarzer and Mark Viduka have been named in the Australia squad for the World Cup play-off with Uruguay next month.

The pair, both expected to play a part in today's match with Man United, are desperate to play in next summer's Germany finals and the only way to achieve that is by beating the South Americans.

Uruguay host the first leg in Montevideo on November 12 with the return leg in Sydney's Telstra Stadium on November 16.