Steve McClaren is demanding the right response when his UEFA Cup heroes resume Premiership service against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow.

The Middlesbrough manager will need no reminding that his charges have failed to win in the three Premiership games which have immediately followed their European exploits.

Thursday night's 2-0 win over Italian giants Lazio took Boro to six points in Group E, all but ensuring their path into the last 32 of the competition.

However, after turning his attentions to tomorrow's Premiership showdown at the Riverside, McClaren has challenged his side to put their domestic heads back on.

Boro are unbeaten in their last four Premiership games and McClaren admitted: "We are going to need a good performance against Bolton because it will be a different kind of game

"We always need to be ready against Bolton because there is great rivalry. This is a big game for us."

A defeat (at Everton) and two draws (at Manchester United and at home to Portsmouth) is all Boro have to show from the games that have followed their involvement in the UEFA Cup this season.

However, McClaren believes his side have already proved they can slip back into Premiership mode after last month's impressive draw at Old Trafford.

He said: "It's very difficult when you ask players to play three games at a high level in a week.

"You have to find a way in the third game to win. We haven't done that yet, although I must say the performance against Manchester United was absolutely magnificent.

"We need another magnificent performance on Sunday to get anything against a Bolton side who are flying at the moment."

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was at the Riverside Stadium on Thursday night, where he must have been contemplating what might have been after the sides' last meeting at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff nine month's ago.

And while Boro's performance against Lazio may have given Allardyce plenty to think about, his old pal McClaren remains wary of the threat Bolton pose.

The Trotters have won their last three Premiership games and lie one place above Boro, in fourth spot.

"Bolton are doing very well and they deserve to be where they are," said McClaren. "We probably played them often enough last season but every game is difficult.

"We'll take confidence from the Lazio game, because we are now eight games unbeaten.

"There's a certain pride in the dressing room from that, which will certainly be tested on Sunday.

"Bolton have done well against the big teams and they will regard us as one of those games."

And McClaren will be looking for more of the same from winger Stewart Downing.

Downing pressed his claims for an international call-up after tearing Lazio to shreds two days ago and McClaren said: "He's playing very well and he needs to continue that on a consistent basis."

Downing will keep his place on the left with Bolo Zenden likely to continue in central midfield alongside George Boateng.

l Boro keeper Brad Jones has joined Blackpool on loan for the remainder of the season.