STEVE McCLAREN has shown plenty of front - in more ways than one - since his late plunge through January's transfer window to swoop for four signings and revitalise Middlesbrough's season.

An air of mid-term despondency had descended on Teesside until McClaren sprang into action to become the busiest boss on the final day of business.

Boro burned the midnight oil on January 31 to tie up deals for Derby duo Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott, Bolton's Michael Ricketts and Brazilian loan signing Doriva from Celta Vigo.

McClaren had seen his side beaten for the fifth time in six games in all competitions when they surrendered their unbeaten home record in a crushing 5-2 defeat by Aston Villa.

It proved a pivotal point in Boro's campaign. In came the new boys and now, seven games later, Boro are still undefeated.

Such has been the turnaround that mutterings of relegation trouble have been hushed by genuine talk of a belated push for Europe.

This victory over a West Brom side doomed to join Sunderland in the Nationwide League, kept Boro's hopes of continental competition flickering.

Striker Christie, a £3m capture, opened the scoring at the Riverside with his third goal for his new club in five starts.

Ricketts, admittedly, has so far been less of a success, struggling as he has done with his form and fitness.

Yet evidence of the manifold options McClaren boasts up front was his decision to once again relegate record £8.15m buy Massimo Maccarone to the bench and recall Joseph-Desire Job.

Although the Cameroon front-runner had chances to score throughout his time on the pitch, it was at least his centre that set up Christie for the 36th-minute breakthrough.

But before the game was made safe, McClaren withdrew groin injury victim Christie and Job to throw on Italian Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth.

And it was Slovakian international Nemeth, arguably the most natural finisher in Boro's ranks, who added a third goal in the 86th minute after a rare strike from midfielder Jonathan Greening ten minutes earlier had settled any nerves.

With five frontmen vying for places around the axis of the mercurial Juninho, McClaren admitted: "It's great to have that sort of competition among the strikers.

"When I've got players on the bench who can come on and get a goal, it's a great asset for any manager. Szil has got that knack of finishing and he has been a bit unfortunate at times not to be playing.

"But we said to him, 'When you get your chance, take it'. Massimo came on as well and showed a great attitude. He's not lacking any confidence.

"The difference has been that we've signed four players and we've got Ugo Ehiogu and Juninho back from injury.

"We didn't have them during January and they've been important. The new signings have been important too and the likes of Christie and Riggott have come in and done well.

"They're providing great competition and even Doriva stepped into the fold here. Where we possibly would have missed George Boateng before, I didn't think we did this time because of Doriva's performance.

"He's on loan, he still has a contract with Celta Vigo, and we're just having a look at him. We'll see what happens at the end of the season.''

McClaren is also hoping to secure a deal for another loanee, Real Madrid's Geremi.

The Cameroon midfielder has been hugely influential during his season-long stint with Boro and McClaren confirmed: "We've had dialogue with Real and made our intentions clear, but it's too early for them to make a decision on Geremi.

"He's been a tremendous asset this season and the fans like him. That's why we're trying everything to get him.''

Geremi, Boro's joint leading scorer this season with seven goals, came close to adding to his tally as Boro scorned a succession of glorious chances.

All three goals, however, were of the highest order. Christie turned in the area to work his way across goal and make room for a clever reverse shot which he clipped in at the near post.

Greening, with his second goal of the season and only his third for the club, took a return ball on the edge of the area from Juninho to drill home.

And the nimble Nemeth used his pace to leave former Manchester United man Ronnie Wallwork trailing in his wake and lift a neat finish beyond goalkeeper Russell Hoult.

But had Juninho enjoyed more luck with a delightful overhead kick which hit the bar just four minutes into the second half, the game would have been over as a contest much earlier.

"Inventive is the word for Juninho,'' said McClaren. "It would have epitomised his performance if that overhead kick had gone in.''

Result: Middlesbrough 3 West Bromwich Albion 0.

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