MIDDLESBROUGH were described by their Grazer AK counterparts as arrogant during the pre-match build up to this encounter and the Teessiders delivered the perfect riposte last night by making sure of a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup - at the Austrians' expense.

Goals from Boro's European hero James Morrison , his third of the competition, and striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink sent Steve McClaren's men through and ultimately set up a mouth-watering affair with Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon next month.

Having given themselves every chance of progress from the first leg, with two goals out in Graz last week, the North-East outfit made life as difficult as possible by conceding a goal that was anything but arrogant.

Mark Schwarzer got himself in a mess early on and skipper Gareth Southgate uncharacteristically gave the ball to striker Mario Bazina, who fired his second goal of the tie into an empty net.

But Darlington-born Morrison, who doesn't turn 19 until May, pounced ten minutes later to level things up and Hasselbaink made sure with a typically powerful strike from the former Chelsea man just after the hour.

Boro's historical progress into the next round was marred by England winger Stewart Downing being stretchered off with five minutes remaining holding his leg.

But even that does not detract from the achievements of Boro's class of 2005, who battled through on a freezing cold night at the Riverside Stadium in front of 20,371.

The draw between the two sides seven days earlier had been played in equally freezing conditions, but neither were on domestic duty at the weekend so they were refreshed for the occasion.

Grazer's league match with Austria Wien was postponed and Boro's failure to make progress in the FA Cup left them with a free couple of days to recover from the exertions in Europe.

That was the main reason manager Steve McClaren decided against resting players ahead of Sunday's important Premiership clash with Charlton at the Riverside.

Joseph Job was the only change from the the line-up which started at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, with midfielder Doriva dropping to the bench.

The inclusion of Job, alongside Hasselbaink, had been expected but it was a signal of intent from the boss, who could have chosen to stick with the five man midfield that did the club so proud in Graz.

Grazer looked to Bosnian Alen Skoro to provide the attacking threat in the absence of top-scorer Roland Kollmann, suspended after his sending off in the first leg, meaning the obvious problems at set-pieces were never as strong.

But Grazer, who proved in the first meeting they are capable of stringing flowing passing moves together, refused to allow the unavailability of their star man to affect their play and their cause was boosted just nine minutes in by an embarrassing moment at the back from the hosts.

A chip over the defence from Rene Aufhauser was wrongly judged by Schwarzer, racing out of his goal.

But instead of clearing, Southgate proceeded to gift possession to Bazina and the Croatian fired an unstoppable effort into an unguarded net.

In a strange sort of way it was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to a nervous looking Boro, who could have gone further behind when the Croatian teenager blasted marginally wide from 15 yards.

The power shift suddenly changed - Grazer invited attacks and Boro duly obliged.

There had been a suggestion an equaliser was on its way and it arrived ten minutes after the opener.

Downing's low drive across the face of goal was only half saved by Andreas Schranz and Morrison pounced to fire Boro level from six yards for another sign of the local youngster's value to the cause and another sign of his maturity with his fourth of the season.

The teenager could have had a fifth soon after. This time he could not keep a right foot volley down when the ball zipped to him on the slippery surface just inside the area.

For the remainder of the half Boro had found a refreshing sense of composure in their play, despite the high winds and the sleet lashing down on the Riverside turf.

Boro could have actually been gifted the goal that would have given them a little daylight before half-time.

But somehow Grazer skipper Anton Ehmann, unaware of his position, headed Downing's sizzling free-kick just over his own bar.

But, after both sides returned from team talks and a hot toddy at the break, there was no way Boro could take progress for granted.

After all Grazer, clearly capable of scoring another goal, would go through if they could nick one more without reply.

Despite the threat, Boro had got a foothold on the game and that was why it was surprising to see goalscorer Morrison and striker Job hauled off for Stuart Parnaby and Doriva, as McClaren tightened things up by switching to one up front and five at the back.

In his earlier days in management, it had been claimed McClaren was a lucky manager but this was a decision that put his head on the chopping block.

Supporters greeted the move with a chorus of boos and only a place in the last 16 would appease those jeers.

The switch had a clear impact. Neither side created anything worth noting until Hasselbaink struck gold, although Grazer's midfield did enjoy a larger share of possession from then on as they went in search of the winner.

But it was the Dutchman, isolated up front as he was in Austria, who gave Boro the vital edge on 61 minutes when he took a touch to turn clear of Mario Tokic before firing powerfully past Schranz.

The chance had been expertly teed up by Parlour and Doriva's midfield invention.

Result: Middlesbrough 2 Grazer AK 1.

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