WHEN no less a judge than Sir Alex Ferguson offers his seal of approval, you can be sure you have made the grade.

Steve McClaren was a star pupil as Sir Alex's assistant at Manchester United before taking the managerial plunge with Middlesbrough.

Now, after a testing first term which featured a lesson in the perils of relegation, McClaren has risen to the top of the Premiership class. Well, almost.

Boro maintained their hold on third place with a performance of fluency and flair against struggling Bolton.

The margin of victory would have been far greater had they not been quite so profligate in front of goal.

But this is no time for nit-picking. McClaren's side are where they are on merit and Ferguson has told his protg that Boro can cement their position.

"Maybe the League is now starting to level out and we're seeing a bit more of a pattern,'' said Ferguson. "You will get a team who are a surprise and spoil the party.

"Middlesbrough have done fantastically well this season and they look like they are there to stay.''

With Man. United not far behind, McClaren knows as well as anyone what a canny Scot Fergie can be, and he joked: "More mind games!''

But the Boro boss admitted: "It's flattering. We have progressed and it's nice to hear him say that.

"We've started well and people are saying good things about us. If we're still up there with eight or nine games to go, I would agree with him.

"But we've only played nine League games and the big test is yet to come. The players have to believe they can stay there. That's the benchmark.''

This was Boro's fourth successive win in all competitions, and their fourth straight victory at home without conceding a goal.

It was proof that the 3-0 triumph at Tottenham a week earlier was no flash in the pan.

"It was important to get another win after the Spurs result,'' said McClaren. "Some of the football we played in the first half here was as good as you'll see.

"But consistency is the name of the game. Man. United, Arsenal and Liverpool are consistent week in, week out.

"Before we envisage staying up there, we have to match that. I'm not surprised we are where we are when you look at our performances.

"But at the beginning of the season, if you'd said we'd be third after nine games, I would have been surprised.''

McClaren added: "We lost Juninho through injury before the season started and we thought that was going to be a big blow.

"But people have to take their chance if it comes along and Joseph Job is a case in point.''

Job is operating in the role behind the front two that McClaren had earmarked for Juninho before the Brazilian was cut down with his cruciate injury.

And if Job sustains his current form, McClaren may face a dilemma when Juninho returns some time in the new year.

Job's link-up with fellow Cameroon star Geremi has been a joy to McClaren and it was that combination which brought Boro their killer goal in the 68th minute of Saturday's game.

Job jumped to win the ball - unfairly in the view of Bolton boss Sam Allardyce - on halfway before taking a return from Alen Boksic to release his compatriot.

And Geremi stayed just onside to break clear and place his shot past keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

On-loan midfielder Geremi, who arrived from Real Madrid in the summer and scored his first Boro goal in the win over Spurs, had been the provider when centre-back Ugo Ehiogu opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.

Ehiogu rose commandingly above Mike Whitlow to meet Geremi's left-wing corner and power a header which Jaaskelainen could only touch on to the underside of the bar as it flew in.

By that stage, however, Boro should have been at least three up after Massimo Maccarone, Alen Boksic and Job all missed glorious chances.

Italian Maccarone, a huge success with four goals since his £8.15m club record capture from Empoli, endured a rare off day as he proceeded to squander two more great openings.

Boksic performed with commendable commitment and looks more like a team player these days.

What is missing from his game is his stock in trade - goals.

The Croatian hasn't scored this season, but McClaren maintained: "The way he's performing at present, we're not worried. His attitude and workrate are magnificent. He was unfortunate not to score this week and he also hit the post last week.

"Strikers have spells like this. At the moment, we're not concerned because he's creating chances for others and we're getting goals from all over the team.

"We're getting better and better - and we know we can get better still.''

Sir Alex, you have been warned.