STEVE McClaren watched his Middlesbrough side climb to tenth place in the Premiership - and then set his sights on a top-six spot.

Boro needed an own goal by Manchester City right-back Sun Jihai to claim a 1-0 victory over Kevin Keegan's side.

McClaren's men were under the cosh for virtually the whole game on their first visit to the City of Manchester Stadium.

But McClaren acclaimed Boro's 'magnificent' defending and declared: "It gives me great satisfaction to be in the top half of the table for the first time this season.

"People had us down as relegation candidates, but we are looking forward and I think this team can get better.

"I think there is more to come from this team.

"We can aspire to be in the top six or eight because this is a very tight League."

McClaren singled out skipper Gareth Southgate and central defensive partner Colin Cooper for special praise, but insisted it was Boro's collective will which won the day.

Boro, who have scored only 12 goals in 14 Premiership games this term, failed to land a shot on target, but McClaren said: "It was one of those days in that respect.

"We know we didn't attack well, but the important thing was the other side of our game.

"After we got the own goal we defended magnificently, but it wasn't just our keeper Mark Schwarzer and the back four, it was all 11 players and the three who had to come on.

"We know we haven't turned the corner yet fully and we know we can play better, but it's important that we keep collecting three points each game."

McClaren revealed that Brazilian Doriva had four stitches inserted in a head wound.

Fellow midfielder George Boateng was also carried off after a clash of heads, and McClaren said: "We lost those two in midfield because of injuries.

"It shows the spirit in the squad that players came on in their place and did a job. I thought Gareth and Colin were absolutely magnificent at the back as they have been all season."

City boss Keegan has cleared Sun Jihai of the ''bizarre'' own goal which sent City plunging to their third-successive Barclaycard Premiership defeat.

''It isn't an issue,'' said Keegan.

''As far as I am concerned he is completely blameless.

''There was no way he could do anything about it. It was just a bizarre own goal.''

Keegan's side dominated from start to finish, yet a combination of stout Middlesbrough defending and the failure of Robbie Fowler and Paulo Wanchope to make the most of a string of a chances saw the Blues finish pointless for the third league game on the trot.

''I have never been involved in a game like that,'' admitted Keegan.

''They didn't have a shot or a corner, yet they have got the three points.

"It was an incredible match and it is hard to believe the result.

''Chances have gone begging at the end but I don't think the players could have given me any more.''

Read more about Middlesbrough here.