A JUBILANT Steve McClaren last night admitted he had missed both of the goals that his took his Middlesbrough side to the brink of the UEFA Cup's last 16.

McClaren, who also failed to witness Joseph-Desire Job's dramatic opener in 2004's Carling Cup final, was still in the dressing room when Stuart Parnaby doubled Boro's advantage in the opening minute of the second half.

And, while he was on the bench when Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink opened the scoring in the 20th minute, he had turned away from the play before a Stuttgart defensive error left the Dutchman in the clear.

"I didn't see the second one at all," said McClaren. "I was walking towards the pitch when I heard an almighty roar. The sound was so loud I assumed it must have been an equaliser.

"I was getting ready to talk about what had gone wrong and it was only when I made it out of the tunnel that I realised it was us who had scored. I almost thought I would go back to the dressing room for the rest of the half.

"Funnily enough, I didn't really see the first one either. I turned away when we conceded possession and, by the time I had turned back around, the ball was almost in the back of the net."

Despite missing the goals, McClaren was still able to witness a battling Boro display that makes them odds-on favourites ahead of next week's second leg.

With George Boateng leading by example at the heart of midfield - the Dutchman was withdrawn as a precaution after receiving a knock on his ankle in the latter stages of the second half - the Teessiders maintained the momentum generated by last weekend's 3-0 win over Chelsea.

"I'm delighted with the result," said McClaren. "I would have settled for it before the game. We've done very well in Europe and we knew we had to be organised, disciplined and defend well to give us the platform to win.

"It's a big win. It was a big game, a big occasion and the players responded. But it will only be a good win if we finish the tie."

That still remains likely despite Daniel Ljuboja's 85th-minute free-kick giving Stuttgart a glimmer of hope. The Germans appeared sluggish for most of the match and, while Ljuboja's strike finally ended Boro's ten-hour run without conceding a UEFA Cup goal, there was little in the home side's ranks to unsettle the Teessiders ahead of Thursday's return.

"The only disappointment is that we gave them a lifeline," admitted McClaren. "A clean sheet was so important and (conceding) does leave the tie still open.

Goalscorer Hasselbaink, who has now scored five goals in his last seven games, agreed, although he also admitted that Stuttgart's need for quick goals would leave them open to attack at the Riverside.

"We've got a very good base to build on with two away goals," he said. "They will have to attack us . It's a good scoreline. We were a bit unfortunate for their goal, but it was a very good performance and all the boys are happy.

"It's been a hard time for us but we have stuck together and worked hard."

* Tickets for the home leg are on sale now priced £20 for adults and £5 for under-16s and over-65s.

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