Derby	0 - 1	Middlesbrough
	Half Time ( 0 - 1 )	Scorers Sanli 38

Boro’s second victory in a row was crucial against rock-bottom club Derby as the score goes a long way to suggesting how tight this game was.

Derby showed two changes from their last game as manager Paul Jewell prepared for his first game in charge in front of his home fans.

Gareth Southgate made just one change from the team who ended Arsenal’s unbeaten run last weekend, knowing that victory against Derby was the only result his side could accept.

Both sides had chances to score, Derby had penalty appeals turned down, both teams hit the woodwork and the visitors had a second goal ruled out. But at the end of 90 minutes, just a solitary goal separated two sides but meant so much to each.

The first half was a quiet affair with little action worthy of note from either team.

Derby’s defence was pulled out of shape early on before their attack looked dangerous with Pearson’s shot blocked and McEverley’s effort saved.

It needed something to be remembered for but the teams showed why they are down at the wrong end of the table as neither could get a grip on the game and create much up front.

The goal came after 38 minutes when Tuncay scored his third goal in as many games with a volley. After giving the ball away cheaply on the half-way line, Derby were soon back-peddling when the ball was played out to Downing on the left and his cross was hit sweetly in first time by Tuncay’s left foot.

After the break, Kenny Miller hit a post for the Rams with a sweet turn and shot as they threatened to get back into the game against a fickle Boro side who sit near the bottom of the table but performed so well last week in their victory against Arsenal.

In reply, George Boateng nearly extended the Middlesbrough lead but saw his header rebound off the post from an acute angle as Derby rocked after a much stronger start to the second-half.

Derby also had two penalty appeals turned down as they pressed for an equaliser. Most obviously when Pogatetz controlled the ball with his hand, despite his claims it was his head. Giles Barnes also stung Mark Schwarzer’s gloves with a fierce shot but it was straight at the keeper.

And at the other end Jeremie Aliadiare had a goal ruled out for handball as the game neared its final whistle.

Derby’s defeat, their thirteenth in the Premiership, sees them rooted to the bottom of the table as Paul Jewell lost his first home game of the season. There were glimpses of promise from the Rams but too little quality doesn’t make up for anything.

Boro’s fourth victory of the season gives them a four point cushion over Fulham who slipped into the last relegation place after their last-gasp defeat at home to Newcastle.


Derby: Bywater, Mears, Davis, Moore, Griffin (McEveley 29), Teale (Howard 56), Oakley, Leacock, Pearson, Barnes, Miller (Earnshaw 74).

Subs Not Used: Price, Lewis.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Woodgate, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing (Johnson 89), Aliadiere, Tuncay.

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Huth, Lee, Cattermole.

Att: 32,676

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

By Ben Hughes