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Yet the Boro boss was rewarded for his judgement and enterprise with a brilliant two-goal performance by the striker.
It should have been a match-winning performance as Middlesbrough looked home and dry until a late collapse.
The 28,000 crowd looked on in disbelief as Fulham threw caution to the wind and snatched a point with their 89th and 90th minute goals.
McClaren summed up admitting to a little bit of shock and a little bit of devastaion.
"This game teaches you harsh lessons and we certainly got one today.
"We paid the price for the lack of concentration. We have to lick our wounds, walk away and come back strongly.
"My players were angry in the dressing room over throwing away two points."
Maccarone became a crowd favorite when he gave Middlesbrough a 31st minute lead with a powerful shot into the net.
Five minutes after the break Maccarone flashed in a near post header from a left-wing cross from Jonathan Greening.
Fulham tried a double substition on the hour in a bid to save the game, but Middlesbrough looked in control until the dramatic finale.
Fulham supporters, who had made the 500 mile round trip to the north east cheered as Sean Davis and Facundo Sava scored but Middlesbrough fans looked on in disbelief