Boro Leave It Late To Beat The Rams

Middlesbrough    2        Derby    0

                                  Adomah 83 Friend 84

Middlesbrough stole a march on the rest of the Championship, after two late goals helped them see off promotion rivals Derby in dramatic fashion at the Riverside.

Albert Adomah celebrates the opening goal
(Picture from i.dailymail.co.uk)

The game, which had been billed as the Championship’s match of the day between the top two sides, was decided in two second half minutes as Boro took control of- not only the contest- but the Championship promotion race itself.

Just seven minutes remained of this top of the table clash when Boro winger Albert Adomah was sent through on goal and produced a delicate chip to beat Derby keeper Lee Grant.

Within the space of sixty seconds it was two, when George Friend recorded a rare goal when he converted David Nugent’s cut back, after the striker had refused to give up on a seemingly lost cause.  

It’s a result which opens up a four point gap between Boro and the Rams at the top of the division. In doing so the Teessiders kept a club record ninth successive clean sheet at home and haven’t conceded a goal for over 702 minutes of football.

"It was an amazing game, it's important for us to win. We're the best team now because we're top, but it doesn't mean anything in January with another 22 games to go,” Said Boro boss Aitor Karanka after the game.

"The emotions are difficult to explain because there was a lot of pressure on us. We're proud of the defensive records we're setting. It's proving hard to create chances against us."

For 83 minutes this was a battle of attrition and patience, as the league’s sternest defences stood firm and strong.

The hosts edged a closely contested first half, in which Derby lost midfielder George Thorne to injury and keeper Lee Grant was called into action on a couple of occasions.

With 15 minutes to go Derby manager Paul Clement made a bold decision to withdraw ex-Boro midfielder Jacob Butterfield to bring on another striker in Andreas Weimann. In the end it was a move which came back to bite him.

"Middlesbrough played very well with good intensity but we weren't at that level for the start, only in spells” said Clement after the match.

"We didn't play as well as we can but Middlesbrough deserved to win. I'm holding my hands up for making an attacking change."

One can only wonder how much attacking fire power it will take to breach the Boro defence at the moment.  Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson can now add Chris Martin to the list of top Championship strikers who they have stopped this season.

In front of them Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton out-hustled a three man Derby midfield, while George Friend relentlessly charged up and down the left channel as if his life depended on it.

The visitors did create chances and looked dangerous from set pieces but still only managed two shots on target all afternoon.   

Boro were the first to threaten when Cristhian Stuani headed over Emilio Nsue’s cross with eight minutes gone. Karanka named an unchanged side from the one which beat Sheffield Wednesday last time out, meaning Kike kept his place upfront. The Spaniard should have opened the scoring when he was sent through on goal but Grant saved his tame effort.

Boro’s early pressure continued when Nsue arrived unmarked at the back post but headed Adomah’s cross from the left wide of the target.

Derby improved as the half went on and in the closing stages before the interval the visitors looked more likely to break the deadlock. Martin headed a right wing cross wide, before Johnny Russell escaped down the left and forced Dimi Konstantopulos to make a low save with his feet from a tight angle.    

Thone’s injury after 21 minutes meant Jeff Hendrick took his place in the middle of the park. After the break Karanka summoned David Nugent back into the side after the striker had missed the previous three games due to a suspension.

With 20 minutes to go Downing curled an effort from the edge of the area inches wide, but it wasn’t until the final seven minutes when the game really burst into life.

With the visitors retreating, Leadbitter- who had fashioned a tidy display in midfield- played a neat one-two with Nugent on the edge of the box before releasing Adomah, who came alive to finish coolly.

Derby were suddenly caught with their defences down and were caught out on the break, as Friend was rewarded with his first goal for over a year after a spirited performance.

Player Ratings

Dimi Konstantopulos   6- Had to make a few saves but was protected well again

George Friend   8- Scored first goal for over a year after a spirited display

Daniel Ayala   8.5- Read everything that came his way

Ben Gibson   8-Contiuned strong partnership with Ayala

Emilio Nsue   7- Was always available on the right side

Grant Leadbitter   8- Kept the ball well and set up the opener

Adam Clayton   7.5- Injury doubt before the game but couldn’t tell

Albert Adomah   7- Came alive to come up with the winner

Stewart Downing   6.5- Still feels like there is more to come from him

Cristhian Stuani   6- Drifted in and up of the game

Kike   6- Worked hard upfront but missed a great chance

Subs

David Nugent   7- Added energy upfront and played a part in both goals

My Boro Man Of The Match: Daniel Ayala