Fleming tips Boro to book final spot

Former Republic of Ireland and Middlesbrough defender Curtis Fleming is backing his former club to take another step towards …

Former Republic of Ireland and Middlesbrough defender Curtis Fleming is backing his former club to take another step towards European glory after seeing at close hand what lies ahead of them.

The Teessiders jetted out to Romania this morning for tomorrow night's Uefa Cup semi-final first leg with Steaua Bucharest knowing they face yet another tough test if they are to make next month's final in Eindhoven.

However, Fleming is confident they can get the better of Cosmin Olaroiu's league leaders after lining up against them himself already this season.

The 37-year-old defender was in the Shelbourne side which lost to Steaua in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League.

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"I played against them at the start of July, end of August in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League with Shelbourne," he said. "We drew with them 0-0 at home and they beat us 4-1 away.

"But it's probably going to be a different kettle of fish because it was August and the start of their season.

"They have had a season now and they have been playing well. At the time we played, our season had started in March and we were well into it.

"But I thought they are definitely beatable when we played against them, so you would hope for Middlesbrough it is going to be totally different, especially with the way their strikers are playing at the moment.

"They will be very hard to handle. I thought our strikers caused them problems and, if it's the same back four, then there are definitely going to be goals there."

The Teessiders were dealt a blow before their departure when in-form striker Mark Viduka was forced to withdraw with a thigh injury picked up in Monday's 2-0 Premiership victory over West Ham.

With Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink playing some of his best football for the club and Aiyegbeni Yakubu still leading the scoring stakes on 19 goals, the Australian's absence may not prove too much of a handicap, though he too has been on top form of late.

However, Fleming has warned Boro the Romanians, who had no fixture at the weekend after they were allowed to postpone their league clash with FCM Bacau, will also pose a threat in attack.

He identified winger Banel Nicolita and striker Nicolae Dica as the biggest threats and, with central defender Chris Riggott suspended, Ugo Ehiogu looks the man most likely to be asked to assist skipper Gareth Southgate in combatting that.

"I was impressed with a couple of their attacking players," Fleming said. "They have got a winger, Nicolita, who's a Freddie Ljungberg kind of player.

"He's not an out-and-out winger, he drifts into areas that Freddie would drop into and he will cause a few problems.

"The lad Dica drops off the centre-forward into that hole and pulls a lot of strings for them.

"In the first game at home, I came on for half an hour to man-mark him and I ended up going into areas that you wouldn't usually go into.

"But really, it's a great chance for Middlesbrough. You always say you want a draw, but I honestly think they can score a goal out there and, if they can defend the way they have been in Europe, they will have a great chance."