MIDDLESBROUGH have long been accused by the English game's chattering classes of having ideas above their football station.

Certainly, the establishment have indulged in an unhealthy dose of schadenfreude whenever Boro's policy of trying to buy success has backfired, most spectacularly in 1997.

But although not every decision taken by the Middlesbrough hierarchy down the years has been sound, at least they have been made with the best of intentions.

Even after this win, Juninho was talking about challenging for a UEFA Cup place.

A fanciful notion? Maybe, but again, at least his heart is in the right place. And if one wished to catch a glimpse of what might have been for Boro had their ambition ever waned, then Aston Villa provided a painful insight on Saturday.

While chairman Steve Gibson bankrolled Middlesbrough's revival following their atrocious start to the season, his Villa counterpart stubbornly refuses to spend another penny of his fortune as a relegation battle beckons.

Doug Ellis, the octogenarian who remains the bete noir of the Villa Park faithful, is the embodiment of his grand old club's plight.

So as David O'Leary bemoaned his empty transfer war chest, everyone else noted that Boro's first Premiership win at Villa was sparked by a player whose arrival on Teesside epitomises their voracious desire to improve.

Steve McClaren acknowledged last season that there was a glaring hole on the left side of his midfield.

So he signed Boudewijn Zenden - a swoop that O'Leary could not even countenance making - and the Holland international is proving that Chelsea had strength in depth prior to Roman Abramovich's arrival.

Before Saturday, Zenden had offered tantalising flashes of his ability to unlock defences. At Villa, the winger compiled a compelling case for McClaren to start wondering whether he might turn his loan move into a permanent one.

He gave Middlesbrough so much more than his goal, an unlikely diving header from Franck Queudrue's cross, and the run that led to Michael Ricketts's penalty.

Zenden popped up on both flanks and, in McClaren's words, "caused havoc on the break".

Along with Gaizka Mendieta, he brought vibrancy to a Middlesbrough attack that has so often been sluggish, especially away from home.

Zenden said: "This is a great result. Our position a couple of months ago was indifferent, but now we're playing better and getting results.

"I'm feeling settled and I'm enjoying my time here. I heard positive things about the club and all those things are true.

"Things are turning in our favour and I think we're getting a bit more luck now.

"We said before the season that we were aiming for Europe, but after five games we only had one point. The first thing we had to do was get out of that difficult situation, and that's what's happening now."

As well as open the scoring after half-an-hour at Villa Park, Zenden hit the side-netting shortly before the interval.

He was then bundled over by Lee Hendrie for the 49th-minute spot-kick that was coolly converted by Ricketts.

It was only the striker's second goal since joining Middlesbrough from Bolton Wanderers in January and he has been pilloried for his lack of fitness.

But Boro captain Gareth Southgate said: "Michael's come in for a lot of stick and I thought he responded brilliantly.

"His attitude over the last few weeks has been great. He got hold of the ball and he was a real targetman for us."

McClaren added: "Michael's been unfortunate because he's had a couple of injuries and hadn't had the chance to settle in.

"But he showed real mental strength to take the ball from the penalty when there were guys like Mendieta and Juninho wanting to take it. I'm really pleased with Michael and I expect big things from him."

Result: Aston Villa 0 Middlesbrough 2.

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