MIDDLESBROUGH'S new striking heroes combined to make an historic occasion at the Riverside a memorable one for the jubilant Teesside faithful last night.

And now, after summer signings Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka grabbed three goals between them against Banik Ostrava, Boro are within touching distance of a fantastic place in the group stage of the UEFA Cup - at the first time of asking.

It may have taken 128-years for Middlesbrough to earn the right to pit their wits against the best Europe has to offer, but this was well worth the wait for those fans in the stands.

Banik, the Czech champions, had more than matched their Premiership opponents for just under an hour.

But Steve McClaren's men got the break they craved when Hasselbaink pounced to hammer in the first, his fourth of the season, before Viduka added two more in clinical style to complete the win.

McClaren's men will make the trip to the Bazaly Stadium on September 30 for the return leg safe in the knowledge that they hold a handsome lead as well as not conceding that crucial away goal.

The Middlesbrough manager had promised an entertaining and memorable evening and his words came true in the end.

Banik's 5-0 first leg hammering to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League qualifier last month had the sort of impact Middlesbrough would not have liked ahead of the big night.

Instead of suffering from a lack of confidence, Frantisek Komnacky's men had not tasted defeat since. And, after an opening day reversal domestically, they have recovered and climbed up to sixth in the Czech 1. Liga table.

It is that strength of character from the visitors, having missed out on their first appearance in club football's premier competition, that Middlesbrough had to guard against to ensure their bow in the UEFA Cup did not get off to the worst possible start.

Despite the club's lack of action on the continent, only Mark Schwarzer, Chris Riggott and Stuart Parnaby from McClaren's starting line-up had not played European cup football in some shape or form.

But, after an adrenalin-fuelled opening few moments, those past experiences took time to shine through in the home side's play as Banik proved why they were going to be no pushovers.

Komnacky had signalled his intentions to defend and rely on the counter-attack. Yet it was his side that had the first effort on goal - a shot that very nearly caught Schwarzer cold.

The Australian had to scamper across his line to guide a speculative 35-yard drive from captain Radek Latal over for a corner with his fingertips.

Banik, passing the ball around nicely at times and not afraid to put in a strong tackle, showed the Teesside public why they were regarded as the toughest first round draw Middlesbrough could have faced.

A one-goal lead at least was required to take to the Czech Republic in two weeks and that necessity suddenly worked its way down to the players in red on the pitch.

As soon as Josef Dvornik was replaced by Jan Velkoborsky, after Ray Parlour had clattered into the defender, Middlesbrough pushed ahead searching for that elusive goal.

Szilard Nemeth, who posed all manner of problems throughout, cut inside from the flank and had a left-foot shot expertly turned away by Martin Raska.

Nemeth, who hails from Slovakia across the Czech border, provided slide-rule passes on two occasions for Parnaby and Viduka, who both failed to beat Raska.

Viduka's, from close range seven minutes before the interval, was probably the best of the half, although a Riggott header from inside six yards, after Bolo Zenden's corner, should have found the target but instead flew high behind the goal.

After the restart, the initiative held by Middlesbrough temporarily disappeared, with Banik doing the early pushing and striker Maroslav Matusovic had more of an impact.

But their failure to test Schwarzer in the end proved costly.

Nemeth and George Boateng both tried their luck before the pair combined to give Hasselbaink the sort of chance he thrives on to give Middlesbrough the lead on 57 minutes.

The Dutch striker reacted first to a Boateng shot, which deflected off both a defender and Nemeth, to blast a first-time right-foot shot beyond Raska.

But, not to be outdone, Hasselbaink's strike partner got in on the act just six minutes later.

Nemeth was again involved. This time he played the ball nicely into Viduka's path and the Aussie fired low into Raska's bottom right corner.

And then, with just ten minutes remaining, Viduka rose unmarked in the Banik box to direct a Zenden corner beyond Raska with typical ease.

Parlour very nearly made it four late on.

But this was still a sensational night on Teesside and you sense there's more on the horizon.