McClaren confident of cup shock

Steve McClaren believes Middlesbrough can beat UEFA Cup favourites Lazio tonight even though he is missing a number of key players.

Former Lazio midfielder Gaizka Mendieta heads the injury list after suffering recent cruciate ligament damage, and is joined on the sidelines by Ugo Ehiogu (calf), Szilard Nemeth (hip), Stuart Parnaby (broken fibula) and Malcolm Christie (broken leg).

But Middlesbrough's seven-game unbeaten run has given manager McClaren hope of winning against the Italians in the Group E match.

"They are one of the giants of European football and favourites for the competition,

so we can't underestimate them," said McClaren.

"But we've watched them play and with the way we're playing, we are very confident.

"The biggest plus for me is the way we are defending. You can't win anything in Europe without defending well."

Lazio, who have former West Ham and Charlton forward Paolo Di Canio in their squad, could be forced to field third-choice goalkeeper Fabrizio Casazza tonight as first-choice Angelo Peruzzi and reserve Matteo Sereni are injured.