MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren can now look forward to an FA Cup Fourth Round clash with his old employers after overcoming First Division Wimbledon at the second time of asking on Tuesday night.

And with another below par performance in front of goal, the possible arrival of £6.9m Independiente striker Diego Forlan to Boro will come as a relief to McClaren.

After Noel Whelan's third minute strike it looked as if the hosts would cruise to victory. However it needed an own goal from Wimbledon's Kenny Cunningham to cement victory and book a noon kick-off with Manchester United at the Riverside on January 26 in front of the Sky Television cameras.

Sitting just one point above the Premiership's relegation places, McClaren will be glad to have the FA Cup as a welcome distraction.

But one certainty is that the former United No 2 will be desperate to have Uruguyan Forlan in his ranks ahead of the Fourth Round tie.

The victory over Wimbledon was the first FA Cup success that Boro have enjoyed over the Dons since the 1976-77 season - when it was bizarrely also a replay in the North-East.

McClaren made three changes to the side which lost 2-1 at Fulham on Saturday.

Striker Szilard Nemeth was given another chance to prove his worth with his first FA Cup start at the expense of Hamilton Ricard,who was not even named on the bench. Franck Queudrue and Phil Stamp were also included at the expense of Colin Cooper and Jonathan Greening respectively.

Dons boss Terry Burton was able to name influential Neal Ardley in his side after shrugging off a hamstring niggle.

Keeper Kelvin Davis, who was instrumental for the visitors in helping them defeat Boro in both Cup competitions last season, was suspended along with Jermaine Darlington.

Wimbledon must have felt quite at home in the sparcely populated Riverside surroundings. The club well known for attracting low crowds to their Selhurst Park ground had to cope with chants from just 9,687 supporters.

But Burton's men did not start like a team feeling comfortable away from London.

The hosts looked lively from the first whistle, with Nemeth obviously desperate to make the most of his first start since December 8 at Liverpool.

And from one of the Slovakian's runs the ball rebounded off the Wimbledon defence and fell to Stamp, who rocketed a shot off the bar from distance in the third minute.

Only seconds later Boro struck the goal that seemed to suggest there was going to be more.

A through ball from Nemeth to Whelan, beat the offside, trap and the latter had the simple task of slotting the ball beyond Ian Feuer in the Wimbledon goal.

Boro continued to look the more dangerous and should have added to the lead when first Feuer saved from a close-range Whelan volley and then a Robbie Mustoe effort was turned away after a poor Michael Hughes back pass.

Despite the possession the hosts' failure to convert their chances always left the 200 or so travelling supporters with hope.

And the long journey north was almost made worthwhile when top-scorer David Connolly had a couple of chances, but Mark Crossley in the Boro goal was equal to both.

The Teessiders have scored only scored four goals in their last 10 matches - and won just twice during the same period. So victory could by no means be taken for granted.

And, although Wimbledon had not found the net in their last two outings, Connolly and Neil Shipperley - with 20 between them this season - were always likely to pose a threat.

And within 12 seconds of the restart Connolly, formerly of Dutch giants Feyenoord, had a superb diving header tipped away by in-form Crossley - as danger signs quickly crept in.

As bright as Boro started the match, the cup tie soon was fast becoming the Crossley Show.

The Welshman then made another good stop after Connolly had out-paced Gianluca Festa and went clean through.

Every chance Wimbledon had seemed to fall to the feet of the diminutive striker but he completely made a hash of the best one.

Kevin Cooper's cross fell to Connolly eight yards out, but he side footed wide.

And Wimbledon were made to pay for that when with nine minutes remaining substitute Allan Johnston's cross was turned in past his own keeper by Kenny Cunningham after a deflection off Trond Andersen.

Read more about the Boro here.