Boro v Roma preview

Steve McLaren's Middlesbrough have been painfully inconsistent this season. The frustrating thing is, they have a good side, and are capable of ruffling even the most notable of feathers when in the mood, as they proved when, astonishingly, they beat Chelsea 3-0 at the Riverside last month. Overall, Boro's form in the UEFA Cup has been sound. They suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Stuttgart in their latest match in this competition, but sailed through nevertheless having beaten the German side 2-1 in their own back yard in the first leg, thus progressing due to superior away goals. Prior to that tie, they were unbeaten in six matches in the tournament. However, they will face by far their stiffest test thus far when Roma come calling on Thursday evening. The Italian side's form in the UEFA Cup is almost a mirror image of Boro's, in that they've lost just once. Indeed, in facing Middlesbrough, Roma will also be facing their sternest assigment in this tournament thus far. But I think they will be up to it and the 7/4 about the away win with Bluesq looks good to me. Although playing away from home abroad is vastly different to playing away in your domestic competitions on home soil, Roma's form on their travels has been outstanding this season. Indeed, they have won eight, drawn four, and lost just one of their thirteen away matches in the Serie A during the current campaign; they have produced some thrilling performances on rival turf, including when beating Inter 3-2 at the San Siro and prevailing in a match that produced the same scoreline at Juventus in the Coppa Italia in January. Vincenzo Montella and Francesco Totti make for a formidable strike partnership and they could give Boro's sometimes suspect defence a torrid time. The home side also have a plethora of attacking substance, with the likes of Hasselbaink and Viduka to call upon, but, like Boro themselves, you can never be sure whether their players will put their best foot forward.