FOR ten years loyal service Curtis Fleming deserved a fitting performance in his testimonial against Athletic Bilbao - and his teammates did not disappoint.

Most notably Joseph-Desire Job's impressive pre-season form continued with a hard-working display that started when he grabbed the first goal of the game on seven minutes.

Two further first-half strikes from Alen Boksic and Noel Whelan capped off a fine opening 45 minutes from the Teessiders.

Job was superb alongside Boksic and if his displays continue through the 2001-02 Premiership campaign then the signs are good.

But this was a day for Fleming, who left his job as a shop assistant to join up with Boro in 1991.

The Republic of Ireland international walked onto the Riverside turf with his wife Lucie and two daughters, Ciara and Erin, to a good reception from the disappoiting 9,382 crowd.

But those who were in attendance will have left for home much encouraged.

Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu had an opportunity to stake an early claim for an international call-up with England coach Sven Goran Eriksson in attendance.

But it was the country's former midfield general, Paul Ince, who was first to shine when his long ball created the opening for Job to break the deadlock on just seven minutes Job's first touch got him past Bilbao keeper Inaki Lafuente, who was well out of goal, and the little African volleyed into an empty net.

Bilbao responded immediately but both midfielder Julen Guerrero and striker Pablo Orbaiz saw efforts fail to beat Mark Schwarzer.

And Boro made the visitors pay on 26 minutes when they made it two.

Job combined well with Ince to create an opening for Boksic and, after Carlos Garcia-Garcia's attempts to score past his own keeper, the Croatian reacted first to the rebound and did just enough to get the ball over the line.

Boro wrapped things up eight minutes before half-time with an extremely well worked goal.

Boksic played a short pass to Robbie Mustoe, who in turn played a delightful through ball for Whelan. The former Coventry and Leeds player neatly finished past Lafuente for his third pre-season strike.

That turned out to be Whelan's last contribution because he was stretchered off and replaced with Hamilton Ricard.

Spanish national team star Ismael Urzaiz failed to light up the Riverside and he should have done better with a header shortly before the break.

Ince and Mustoe had fine games in the centre of the pitch alongside Dean Windass.

A Boro match would not be the same without a spectacular effort from Boksic, and he duly delivered - one of his chips flying over the bar.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer 7 (Crossley 71), Fleming 7 (Gavin 81), Cooper 7 (Stockdale 81), Southgate 7 (Vickers 81), Ehiogu 7 (Gordon 81), Windass 7 (Hudson 77), Mustoe 7, Ince 8, JOB 9 (Summerbell 88), Boksic 7 (Deane 75) , Whelan 7 (Ricard 41 6).

Attendance: 9,382