Boro chief calms probe fear

Teenage midfielder James Morrison scored on his Middlesbrough debut as Steve McClaren's patched-up side survived a spirited Ostrava fightback.

Morrison ran on to George Boateng's injury-time pass to seal a place in the Uefa Cup group stages after 10-man Boro had been forced to hang on.

David Bystron's spectacular 19th-minute volley had given the Czech side hope.

Franck Quedrue saw red on 58 minutes but Boro defended bravely before Morrisson applied the finishing touch.

With his squad ravaged by injuries, Boro boss Steve McClaren was forced into giving 18-year-old Morrison a first start, while a further five teenagers were on a very inexperienced substitutes' bench.

But, even without the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Joseph-Desire Job and Mark Viduka, Boro appeared to possess enough amunition to take the tie beyond the reach of Ostrava.

An away goal would have left the Czechs needing five to progress and Boudewijn Zenden, operating behind lone striker Szilard Nemeth, almost provided it after a sublime turn and shot forced goalkeeper Raska into a smart save.

Raska also had to be alert to push a Stuart Downing header over his crossbar, but was powerless to keep out a Nemeth flick which flew agonisingly across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Szilard Nemeth tangles with Ostrava's Pavel Besta

Keeping possession in midfield was proving crucial for the Premiership side, after McClaren had warned his team of the dangers Ostrava possessed going forward.

Yet even he could not have foreseen Bystron's bolt from the blue which brought the tie to life.

There seemed little danger when the ball dropped to the midfielder in space, but Bystron let fly with a spectacular bicycle kick which flew past Mark Schwarzer and into the corner of the Boro net.

The goal gave the home side renewed hope and the Czech fans' spirits were raised further seven minutes into the second half when Mario Licka's well-struck volley forced Schwarzer into a fingertip save.

Boro's nerves were further stretched when Quedrue was harshly sent off on 58 minutes.

Having been rightly booked for deliberate handball just nine minutes earlier, the French full-back was unlucky to receive another when he appeared to take the ball as he brought Papadopulos's forward run to an abrubt halt.

Whoa! That second half was backs to the wall - complete torture but glad Boro came through it From PW Have your say on 606

Zenden slotted in at full-back and was quickly called into action to head a Papadopulos header off the line as Boro's night began to reach crisis levels.

Injuries to Colin Cooper and Downing saw Boro briefly reduced to nine men on two separate occasions as Boro's route to the group stages of the competition threatened to collapse.

But Cooper recovered after suffering a ball in the face and bravely formed a vital central defensive barrier with Southgate as Ostrava continued to pour forward.

Their experience proved crucial in the closing stages as Boro survived the onslaught - and Ostrava's hopes had evaporated before Morrisson had the final say.

Boateng played a perfectly-weighted pass through the stretched Ostrava defence and Morrisson touched the ball past the outrushing keeper before coolly slotting home from 18 yards.

Banik Ostrava: Raska, Pospech, Besta, Dvornik, Licka, Latal, Bystron, Zubek (Zurek 68), Cizek, Papadopulos (Velkoborsky 81), Matusovic, Zurek.
Subs Not Used: Bucek, Drozd, Kotrys, Hoffmann, Varadi.

Booked: Papadopulos.

Goals: Bystron 19.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Cooper, Southgate, Queudrue, Morrison, Boateng, Doriva, Downing, Zenden, Nemeth (Christie 83).
Subs Not Used: Nash, McMahon, Bates, Taylor, Mendieta, Wheater.

Sent Off: Queudrue (58).

Booked: Queudrue.

Goals: Morrison 90.

Att: 15,351.

Ref: Matteo Trefoloni (Italy).