Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren hopes his side's 1-0 win over Grasshoppers in their opening Uefa Cup Group D game will help silence his critics. "We do not understand the situation," said McClaren after a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink goal on 10 minutes gave Boro the win in Switzerland.
"We have lost one game in eight now. We are midway in the Premiership and we know our home form could be better.
"We are doing well away from home and have made a good start in this group."
Middlesbrough were jeered after last weekend's 1-1 home draw against Portsmouth and McClaren started the game with just one striker, Yakubu.
On Thursday, McClaren opted to start with two forwards, Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka.
McClaren added: "There are positive things going on.
"We played very well in the first half but they took some risks and came back at us.
"At half-time I said 'Go for the second goal'. We didn't get it - but weren't the back four magnificent?
"Credit Grasshoppers but we stuck at it and stuck together, the subs shored things up and overall we deserved the win."
MMIX
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