McClaren promises cautious approach

Tuesday, 14, Mar 2006 09:37

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has admitted that his team will adopt a cautious approach in their Uefa Cup second leg tie against Roma.

The Teesside club take a 1-0 advantage from the first leg to the Stadio Olympico after halting the Italian side's 11-match winning streak last week.

Boro face a tough task to make it through to the last eight and McClaren says he will be aiming to secure a clean sheet when he sends his team out on Wednesday.

"We said before the first game that the most important thing was a clean sheet, but we played Yakubu and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in an attempt to score a goal," McClaren said.

"It may be different tomorrow, but whatever happens during the game, we are prepared for it."

Middlesbrough have enjoyed a resurgence in form in recent weeks and have banished fears of a relegation dogfight with three wins from their last four league games.

Now they are 90 minutes away from the quarter-finals of a major European competition and McClaren knows it will be a big night for the club.

"We had big games last season, but we have worked hard to get to this stage, we have put ourselves in a good position and we look forward to the occasion tomorrow," McClaren added.

"It will be, apart from the Carling Cup final, one of the biggest occasions in the club's history and it would mean an enormous amount to everyone so we have to finish the job."

McClaren rested most of his starting XI from the first leg for the league game against Middlesbrough on Sunday and he will restore most of them for tomorrow's game.