PULIS PRAISE FOR BORO AFTER EARNING DRAW
DERBY COUNTY 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis described the reaction of his players as “fabulous” after they hit back to earn a 1-1 draw at Derby.
Pulis lost central defender Aden Flint with a hamstring injury in the warm-up and that appeared to unsettle Boro as Derby roared into a second-minute lead.
Jack Marriott’s quick pass released Harry Wilson, who beat Darren Randolph with an instinctive finish from just inside the area.
Boro worked their way back into the game and after Wilson was forced off with an injury early in the second half, Jordan Hugill equalised with a 53rd minute header from a George Friend cross.
Danny Batth should have scored two minutes later, but headed straight at Scott Carson and Derby regained the initiative and had a chance to win it four minutes from time.
A quick break gave David Nugent a clear chance, but he fired straight at Randolph from 18 yards and Boro closed down the game to earn the praise of Pulis.
Pulis said: “We were disappointed to lose Aden just before kick-off, that was a massive blow, and I think we started like it.
“We were very much on the back foot at the back, they got the goal after two minutes, but the response of the players was fabulous and I think we took control then for long periods and Danny Batth’s chance was the best of the game and he should score.
“The players have worked tremendously hard, especially after such an early setback.
“To give them a leg-up you think ‘blimey, this is going to be a long afternoon’ but they showed great character and the midfielders swarmed all over Derby at times.”
Derby were unchanged but Middlesbrough were forced into a late switch when defender Flint was injured in the warm-up.
Losing the big centreback might have unsettled Boro’s defence which was opened up in the second minute when Marriott’s pass released Wilson, who flashed a shot past Randolph from just inside the area.
Boro had created little, but they went close in the 24th minute when Mo Besic crossed from the right and Lewis Wing and Hugill both had shots blocked.
The first half ended with a flashpoint when Saville’s challenge on Marriott sparked angry reactions from Derby but referee Robert Jones only produced a yellow card.
Wilson had needed treatment in the first half and he lasted only four minutes of the second before he again sank to the turf and was replaced by Tom Huddlestone.
The midfielder lost the ball in the build-up to a Boro break that led to the equaliser in the 53rd minute.
George Friend whipped in a cross from the left and Hugill got between two defenders to head past Scott Carson.
Derby had a great chance in the 86th minute when they broke away, but Nugent shot straight at Randolph from just inside the area.