STEVE McClaren hailed his youngster's "heroic" efforts at Craven Cottage yesterday and felt it was an injustice Middlesbrough lost their final Premier League fixture of the season.

A penalty from Hieder Helguson settled the 50th league contest between the two sides after defender David Wheater tripped the striker in the box eight minutes from time.

Although referee Mark Halsey made the correct decision awarding the spot kick, the result didn't necessarily reflect the overall proceedings.

The defeat seemed a little harsh on the travelling Teessiders who had a goal chalked off for handball and wasted a glut of chances to put the game to bed before the home side netted the eventual winner.

"I haven't seen the incident but we had quite a few chances and played well," said McClaren, at the end of his penultimate match in charge of the club and 249th overall.

"Had we got the goal we might have got the result but I'll have to see it again before I can comment."

On another day a controversial disallowed goal would have usually dominated proceedings but then yesterday wasn't a normal day in the life of Middlesbrough Football Club.

With the Teessiders about to make a first historic appearance in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday against Seville, the Boro boss set about creating more club and Premier League precedents. McClaren selected seven teenagers to start against Chris Coleman's Fulham before introducing another pair of teenage debutants - Josh Walker and Tom Craddock - from the bench in the second half.

"It's a proud day for Middlesbrough and for Steve Gibson the chairman," said McClaren.

"It has always been his dream to field a team full of players born within a 30-mile radius of the (Riverside) Stadium and 15 out of the 16 man squad were.

"We did it for two reasons: we can afford to rest the senior players who are going to play on Wednesday (in the UEFA Cup final) and because we knew we could get a result. The performance was heroic and it was an injustice that we lost that game.

"But what a legacy to leave the next manager.

"You'll be pressed to find a team as young as that in football history, that were all English and born within 30 miles radius of the football club.

"And what about the way they performed? Lee Cattermole was the club's youngest captain at 18. (Adam) Johnson, (James) Morrison, (Matthew) Bates, (David) Wheater, tremendous prospects but I could go through them all.

"It's a tremendous squad we have and I think all of them, with the exception of Jason Kennedy, are internationals at different levels."

McClaren's decision to rest his senior pro's at Fulham may suggest the door was closed for those who played a part in London yesterday, but this isn't necessarily so.

"The youngsters who played against Fulham have a definite chance of playing a part on Wednesday," insisted McClaren.

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