Rams Strike Late To Deny Boro

Derby    1        Middlesbrough    1    

A late equaliser from Derby’s Johnny Russell denied Middlesbrough their first away victory of the season, as two of the bookmaker’s promotion favourites played out a 1-1 draw at the IPro Stadium.

Boro's Albert Adomah in action at Derby

  

Russell, a first half substitute for the injured Jeff Hendrick, stuck with two minutes of normal time remaining when he latched onto Ryan Shotton’s long pass. The Rams had trailed the visitors for just over 80 minutes following Kike’s opener; it was Derby’s third straight draw of the new campaign following stalemates with Bolton and Charlton.  

Kike’s goal on 16 minutes was his third in two games and came courtesy of George Friend’s though ball inside the penalty area, which the Spanish striker cannoned across goal past Rams keeper Scott Carson.

Derby almost took the lead moments earlier when Hendrik’s shot required an outstretched save from Dimi Konstantopulos. In the second half Konstantopulos appeared to have earned Boro all three points when he kept out Tom Ince’s free kick and Chris Martin’s header, but when Russell found space inside penalty area the Boro keeper was unable to stop him as he salvaged a point for the home side.