STEVE McCLAREN is praying that the luck Arsenal have enjoyed against Middlesbrough this season will rub off on his own side in tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford and keep alive Teesside's trophy dreams.

McClaren is adamant that the gods smiled on the Gunners in the sides' Premiership meetings this season.

The England coach endured a baptism of fire on the opening day of the campaign when Arsenal won 4-0 at the Riverside in McClaren's first game in management.

Boro were only trailing by a goal against ten men with five minutes to go, but collapsed after centre-back Ugo Ehiogu was harshly sent off.

And they lost the lead and the match at Highbury in December when Arsenal scored a controversial equaliser before winning 2-1.

McClaren insisted: "I think we've been unfortunate that we've had decisions go against us in the other games against them this season.

"We were 1-0 down in the first game of the season and we had Ugo sent off. Three minutes later, we were 4-0 down.

"We were 1-0 up at Highbury with about half an hour to go and a controversial decision gave them the equaliser and the impetus to get the winner.

"But the games weren't as the scoreline suggested. You need quite a few things to go your way to win against teams like Arsenal, and hopefully they will go our way this time.''

McClaren knows Boro need all the luck they can get, with four key players unavailable and midfielder Jonathan Greening now doubtful with a calf injury sustained in the home win over Aston Villa a week ago.

Skipper Paul Ince is suspended, on-loan link-man Benito Carbone Cup-tied, and front-runners Noel Whelan (hamstring) and Szilard Nemeth (ankle) on the injured list.

The good news for McClaren is that leading scorer Alen Boksic is fit after missing the last two matches with a groin injury.

Boksic grabbed his eighth goal this season in the shock 1-0 win at Old Trafford against champions Manchester United three weeks ago, when Boro's obdurate defending also proved pivotal.

And McClaren believes that if his makeshift line-up can replicate that performance and achieve another surprise victory, they can clinch a final date at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium with either Cup bogey side Chelsea or Fulham in three weeks' time, and a possible passport to Europe for the first time in Boro's 126-year existence.

McClaren said: "We proved in our victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United that if we score early, we can defend a lead.

"But in semi-finals you need magnificent performances from all your players, not just the defenders. All we've concentrated on this week is making sure that, whoever we put out on the pitch, they perform to the maximum.

"If they do that we've got a chance of winning.''

Ince sits out his second game of a two-match ban for a harsh booking against United at Old Trafford.

"Our biggest disappointment is for the players who can't play this weekend,'' said McClaren.

"Paul is a big miss. I think it's a travesty that his booking against United keeps him out of this game. We've coped without him before, but he has been a major force in our progress this year.

"Noel getting injured in last week's game, Jonathan picking up a calf strain which may keep him out - he's very much touch and go - and Szilard coming back injured from international duty with Slovakia, it's really disappointing for all of them.

"And there's poor Carbone, who had a little game for Derby against Bristol Rovers and that means he's Cup-tied. He's been so instrumental in our form recently.

"But the fact that Alen's back is a big boost for us.''

McClaren has drafted Bishop Auckland-born Mark Hudson into the squad and also has Michael Debeve and a fit-again Phil Stamp to call on in midfield, while Dean Windass can either play in the middle or up front.

But whatever team he picks, McClaren is acutely aware of the challenge they face.

"Arsenal are one of the best attacking teams, certainly in the Premier League, and around Europe as well,'' he said.

"They have such pace and power. I watched them in the replay against Newcastle in the last round and they had the game won in ten minutes.''

McClaren maintains his big-game experience with England, and as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, have stood him in good stead for tomorrow's occasion.

He said: "I wouldn't say it's the biggest game of my career. I've been fortunate to have been involved in many big games with Manchester United and England.

"This time it's different because I'm the manager and the buck stops with me.

"But I think those experiences with Man. United and England, and us winning at Old Trafford a few weeks ago, have been a help.

"It has been a great advantage working with Man. United and England, and it helps having both roles now. You've got one hat on, and sometimes it's better to have the other hat on.

"Being involved in a European Cup final win with United, and the World Cup games against Germany and Greece, you learn a lot.''

McClaren is now hoping Boro can triumph over adversity against Arsenal and go on to lift their first major silverware.

Boro were touched by tragedy on the day they beat Man. United in the fourth round when defender Colin Cooper's two-year-old son, Finlay, died only hours after the game.

McClaren said: "It has been a tough and testing season. We've had quite a bit of adversity.

"We've had to climb out of the bottom three and we've had criticism for the way we've played.

"But we've worked our way into a position where it could become the best season in the club's history.

"We've stayed up, which is a fantastic achievement. I still think we can do more. We've got targets. We want to win this game on Sunday to give something back to the fans and I'll be disappointed if we don't finish in the top ten in the Premiership.'

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