Boro dominated Lazio from virtually start to finish to sweep their way back to the top of Uefa Cup Group E and move within touching distance of a place in the last 32 knockout phase with a 2-0 win.

Considering this is Boro's debut continental campaign, they have so far taken Europe in their stride, and with this result will have sent out a clear message they mean business.

McClaren was left beaming after the game as he said: "It was a perfect European night.

"As I have said before, European nights are special and a little bit different, and with Lazio here there was an expectancy I could feel in the town.

"For the team to give them [the fans] a performance like that put the icing on the cake for me.

"It was a great night for them, a great performance, some great goals and the result at the end, with a clean sheet and the two goals, was perfect.

"But the biggest thing was the performance. We got about Lazio, didn't let them settle or play and in possession controlled it and looked threatening every time we went forward.

"You can see for yourself the experience we have in the squad is showing. To win in Europe you need to defend well, and we have done that because we have conceded only one goal in four games.

"We can also score goals, and again that is something you can see from the performances we have had, so we have good balance.

"I think we have really taken to Europe very well."