CHRIS RIGGOTT has reassured Middlesbrough supporters that the heartbreak of losing the first of this week's semi-finals will not have a negative effect on their only other chance of lifting silverware this season.

After the despair of missing out on the club's second FA Cup final, by virtue of Sunday's defeat to West Ham United, Boro know overturning a 1-0 deficit against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday is essential if the campaign is not going to end on a sour note.

Having missed the chance to appear at the Millennium Stadium, there is a feeling among the fans that it will be difficult to raise spirits for the crucial second leg with the Romanians.

But, revealing a determination to ensure one final appearance is secured, Riggott insists the Middlesbrough squad can rise to the enormity of the occasion when Steaua arrive on Thursday.

The UEFA Cup semi-final return fixture will be Middlesbrough's 31st match since the turn of the year, but the competent centre-back is not about to use tiredness as an excuse for Sunday's failings.

"It was a huge blow," said Riggott. "I don't think the amount of games we have been playing is relevant. If anything, it's great to play in the big games.

"It is not great when you lose. But we are not using too many games as an excuse. I felt fresh. We knew it would be a big week and we weren't planning on going out on Sunday.

"But Thursday will be a huge night now. The lads are gutted and we have said we don't want to feel like this again. It is a horrible feeling to get to within touching distance of the final and then not to quite get there. We are determined not to let it happen again."

After Marlon Harewood's goal 12 minutes from time, Middlesbrough tried to claw themselves level and their best chance fell in the dying seconds to makeshift centre-forward Riggott.

As the ball fell to him unmarked in the box some ten yards out, he wasted the opportunity when he skewed his right-foot effort wide.

When the final whistle blew he was comforted by many of his team-mates and admitted 'I suppose it was like missing the last penalty in a shoot out'.

"I didn't quite expect it to fall to me but when it did I didn't quite get it out of my feet and I scuffed it," said Riggott, who started in his schoolboy days as a striker. "I can't believe it. I can't stop thinking about it.

"It was a huge chance, it fell to me, but unfortunately I didn't take it.

"I don't really know what to say, I steadied myself, I got it, just tried to hit it, but maybe I tried to hit it too hard.

"That is football. Maybe we should have created more, and scored before that. At the end of the day, those moments define a game for you."

Riggott, who missed last Thursday's first leg in Bucharest, will line up for Middlesbrough at the heart of the defence when one of the giants of eastern European football arrive on Teesside.

The task of stopping Steaua from scoring an away goal will be made all the harder by the fact goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will miss the rest of the season with a fractured cheekbone.

Schwarzer, who sustained the injury in an aerial challenge with West Ham's Dean Ashton, will not only miss the UEFA Cup final in Eindhoven should Boro get there, he could also miss the World Cup.

Provided corrective surgery at a Darlington hospital yesterday went well, he could be back in training in two weeks wearing a protective mask.

With Brad Jones inbetween the posts on Thursday night, Stuart Downing insists Boro can still progress and earn a place in the Eindhoven showpiece.

And he admits there is a fear that a season which threatened to be rewarded with two trophies will end with nothing.

"The disappointment will last a day or two but we have to pick ourselves up," said Downing.

"We have a great chance of getting to the UEFA Cup final and making the season something special instead of nothing."

* Tickets are still available for Thursday's UEFA Cup semi-final second leg with Steaua and are available priced £24 to £32 for adults and £15 and £22 for concessions.