DERBY.............................................................................1

Middlesbrough’s Adam Clayton and Derby County’s Mason Mount (right) battle for the ball in the match which ended 1-1 long second best. Derby were unfortunate not to be quickly 2-0 ahead, Wilson hitting the post.

Boro’s best first-half chance came about fortuitously.

Scott Carson’s pass from the penalty area was intercepted by Downing who played in Britt Assombalonga.

However, but despite Derby’s goalkeeper being out of position the forward was too slow to take the opportunity, allowing Tom Huddlestone to make a tackle.

Boro’s laboured approach was in contrast to Derby’s swift, incisive attacking, their only regret at the break being they were not further ahead.

The early stages of the second half were less eventful and soon Pulis made three changes, sending on Martin Braithwaite, Rudy Gestede and George Saville.

There was a slight improvement in his side and they stemmed the tide.

Friend crossed from the byline but Malone scooped the ball away from Gestede’s toes and, from the resulting corner kick, Gestede missed a free header.

For all of Boro’s toil in the second half, they did not look like scoring - but it proved not to be a problem as Derby did it for them.

A Boro corner was cleared to midfielder Adam Clayton who swung the ball back in, Flint headed it on - and Bogle inexplicably volleyed past Carson.