Yakubu's cool finish puts Boro in the driving seat

This performance from the Premiership's only representatives left in the competition did not quite send the shockwaves around Europe manager Steve McClaren had hoped for.

But, having gained the slender advantage courtesy of Aiyegbeni Yakubu's first half penalty, the fact that Roma failed to find the crucial away goal means the reverberations could still occur when the final whistle blows at the end of the second leg.

A memorable night on Teesside, the biggest European occasion to happen by the River Tees, was made even more special by Yakubu's casual finish after 12 minutes and that proved a lead Boro could hold on to.

As in 1999 when Newcastle were beaten by Roma courtesy of a controversial penalty converted by Franceso Totti, someone who was not on show here through injury, there were question marks over last night's spot-kick.

But French referee Alain Sars pointed to the spot when Italian under-21 goalkeeper Gianluca Curci charged out of his goal and brought down Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, with the Roma players claiming a dive.

However, Yakubu steadied himself and stroked in his 19th goal of the season.

And Boro now take that to the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday where they will be aiming to finish the job they have half completed - even if there was 10,000 empty seats in the Riverside last night.

Given the European pedigree of last night's opponents, McClaren had talked extensively about making sure the game plan was perfect to defy the counter-attacking style of Roma.

And, having been duped by Stuttgart when opting to play with the lone striker in the home leg of the previous round, Hasselbaink was asked to provide the link between midfield and attack.

Something different it may have been yet it became evidently clear in the opening exchanges that he had got his tactics spot on.

The Dutchman had already threatened the Roma penalty area before the penalty decision.

After Yakubu's turn of pace down the left, Hasselbaink charged to meet the African's low cross but connected with Curci who held on for safety.

Nevertheless the English-style approach to the game McClaren had demanded continued and it was on 12 minutes when the attacking two combined to earn the opener.

After Andrew Davies found Gaizka Mendieta down the right, the Spaniard skipped past Leandro Cufre before rolling a fine pass into the path of Hasselbaink.

The 33-year-old then went down in the box after Curci's clumsy charge out of his goal and the penalty was awarded.

And, as he has so often this season, Yakubu strolled up to the spot and casually slotted his kick low into Curci's right side to give Boro the advantage on one of the club's biggest nights in its history.

Roma looked organised throughout but without an out-and-out striker seemed to play into the hands of Boro's defence throughout the opening half.

There was one hairy moment before the lead had been gained when Simone Perrotta, operating behind attacking midfielder Mancini, was put clear over the top.

But Perrotta, who has been in fine form throughout Roma's record breaking 13-game domestic run, watched Gareth Southgate save the day and clear on the line after his shot had beaten Mark Schwarzer in the home goal.

Perhaps Roma would have been a different proposition had Totti, one of the finest distributors of the ball in world football, been in the Mancini role.

Instead, though, Boro always looked the more dangerous when on the attack.

But, despite Boro's blistering start, the Roma goal had not been peppered with the shots the Teessiders' possession had deserved by half-time.

The Giallorossi had shown in glimpses, through their neat passing even on a drenched surface, what sort of threat they could pose and that they possessed enough talent to score the crucial away goal that Boro were keen to avoid.

And in a bid to pull level, Spalletti immediately made a change to his line-up by asking Rodrigo Taddei to switch with Mancini and play through the middle as a striker, opening the game up for more goalmouth action.

Worryingly for Boro the switch worked. Suddenly Boro, rocked from the moment George Boateng required treatment to an injury, failed to retain possession like they had been and Roma were enjoying more in the final third.

But, despite the increase in pressure to the Boro box, Chris Riggott and Southgate ensured the red defensive wall stayed intact to thwart the visitors' advances.

Mancini, the leading light of Roma in recent months, provided more of a threat out wide and he very nearly levelled matters just after the hour when his curling 25-yard strike dropped just the wrong side of Schwarzer's left post.

Hasselbaink's rocket from wide on the right caused, but that was a brief respite during a second half in which Boro were given a taste of what is likely to come in the Italian capital next week.

Roma substitute Edgar Alvarez went the closest when his back post volley had to be palmed away by the outstretched right hand of Schwarzer.

However, Boro's lead could still have been stronger had Mendieta not wasted a glorious opening after Mark Viduka, a replacement for Yakubu, had played him in with his first touch.

But, for now, a lead is a lead and hopes remain of a place in the last eight.

Result: Middlesbrough 1, AS Roma 0.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.