NO SOONER had the excited chatter of European qualification re-started then it stalled again.

Two months or so ago it seemed there was no chance of Saints making Europe. It was just going to be a drab ending to the season.

But three wins from four under Paul Sturrock allowed everybody to dream again - especially with the league table being as tight as it is.

Even the new boss and the players have been talking publicly about the possibility of making a late charge up the league to sneak into a UEFA Cup place.

It's still agonisingly in reach with the teams between Saints and fourth place so remarkably inconsistent.

But this defeat against another team chasing fifth spot has put a serious dent in the aspirations for this season.

Perhaps more pointedly though, the manner of the defeat suggested there are teams currently better than Saints between them and those golden, much celebrated, European berths.

Speaking of inconsistency, the difference between this performance and the previous game at Wolves could hardly have been more marked.

To be fair, the difference in the quality of the opposition was obvious as well.

Against Wolves, Saints were slick, quick, decisive, dominating and domineering. They were quick to close down the ball, played to their strengths and were worthy winners.

Against Boro they were torn to shreds for the first 45 minutes. It was a total demolition job from Steve McClaren's impressive side.

With the likes of the confident Juninho, Zenden, Mendieta, Maccarone and Nemeth running at you, you need to be strong, work hard and hope for the best.

Sadly, in the first 45, Saints were found wanting.

There was an improvement after half-time, particularly when Marian Pahars entered the fray, but by then the damage was largely done.

After the match there was talk of this being the worst Saints performance of the season. It wasn't that bad.

At least in this match, unlike against Portsmouth last month, Saints rolled up their sleeves and fought - they just weren't very good on the day.

There are a lot of similarities to be drawn between Saints and Boro with both sides being well organised, having a strong work ethic and a good team spirit.

But the defining difference between the two teams right now is that Boro have that extra bit of class thanks to the players listed earlier.

It's not enough to make them as good as, say, Arsenal, but in the mood they were in yesterday they would have given anybody a good game.

Even the hardy Saints fans who made the long trip up north, and even longer feeling trip back, must have begrudgingly enjoyed Boro's marvellous football.

They gave Saints a right run-around. No wonder they are the Premiership's second top scorers in 2004.

After a reasonably solid start from Saints, Antti Niemi had to keep out Juninho and Massimo Maccarone before Boro really got to work. Then they started cutting the Saints defence to ribbons.

They took the lead on 23 minutes when Maccarone played in Szilard Nemeth. He pulled the back to Juninho, who smashed a first-time shot into the top corner from ten yards.

There were appeals that Maccarone was offside when he received the ball but nothing was given.

That was the case again when Claus Lundekvam's shot into the danger area was cleared off the line by the Italian striker - suggestions were that it was with his hand.

After a great last-ditch tackle from Yoann Folly and a scramble away by Stephen Crainey, it was 2-0. The ball was played through to Maccarone who out-muscled Lundekvam and charged into the area.

Niemi came to meet the ball and player with his feet and it fell to Nemeth who made no mistake in slotting home.

Into the second half and Saints were much stronger, you didn't feel every time Boro had the ball they might score.

But the game was killed four minutes into the second period when Maccarone neatly finished across Niemi after being inadvertently played in by Rory Delap, chasing back Fracnk Queudrue.

On 57 minutes Sturrock replaced Fabrice Fernandes with Pahars and suddenly Saints had fresh life and attacking impetus injected into them.

And they pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining when Mark Schwarzer had a right flap at a ball from a corner and it fell to James Beattie, captain for the day, who remained composed and volleyed home his fifth goal in his last three trips to Boro.

There was one further incident of note when Niemi pulled off a smart stop to deny Juninho. But by then the match, along with three points and the dream of reaching Europe via the league this season, was virtually over.