Jimmy joy at Roma win

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Boro have a fantastic chance in the Uefa cup.

Boro stifled the visitors impressively on Thursday and have set themselves up nicely for the return leg in the Eternal City next week.

Hasselbaink was thrilled with the effort put in by Steve McClaren's side and feels Roma will be up against it in the second leg.

"It was a great result and a great performance by the whole team," the Dutch striker told Sky Sports News. "I think everybody involved with Middlesbrough is delighted with 1-0.

"We were never in any trouble, yes they had a lot of the ball but they didn't create a lot and it is great for the club and the players."

Hasselbaink feels an away goal could guarantee Boro a place in the last eight.

"It is great we did not concede," he added. "They have to come at us and if we can score one goal then they will need to score three and I can't see them doing that against us.

"I am not saying it is going to be easy, it will be a tricky tie, but we have it in or own hands."

Boro's winning goal came from the boot of Yakubu Aiyegbeni, but Hasselbaink played a key part in winning the early penalty.

The award was highly contentious, as Hasselbaink tumbled to the turf under minimal contact from Roma keeper Gianluca Curci.

The striker defended his actions in winning penalty, merely commenting: "He gave it so it is a penalty."