Tony Pulis forced to change his formation by the Rams
Derby County traveled to the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough yesterday with a chance of topping the table if they beat A Middlesbrough side that was currently in second place in the Championship table behind Leeds United. The Rams had this chance because of the early 12.30 kick-off to accommodate live TV coverage.
The Rams were very unlucky not to get three wins out of three but the luck seemed to have evened itself out at the Riverside as Derby County drew with Middlesbrough. The Rams had temporarily topped the Championship table, something the Rams had done for most of the game and the first time since 2015.
George Friend (right) scorer of an own goal for the Rams looks on as David Nugent goes one on one with the Boro keeper
If the Rams needed a friend yesterday they found one in George Friend, the Middlesbrough midfielder put the Rams ahead with an own goal in the 19th minute of an open and end to end game. The goal put Derby County on top of the Championship and the traveling fans wasted no time in reminding Boro fan that they “we’re Derby County and on top of the league”.
The Rams held on to their lead but rode their luck a little during the remainder of the first 45 minutes. The second half was slightly different and Tony Pulis was forced to go to a back four to cope with the Rams, something pundits had wondered about after Derby had demolished both Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion who had played with three defenders at the back.
Former Rams defender Daniel Ayala stops Harry Wilson, as Derbyshire born Ayden Flint looks on.
The Rams again had their moments and substitute David Nugent had a glorious chance to put the Rams 2-0 up as he found himself one on one with Randolph in the Middlesbrough goal but fired his shot straight at the Boro keeper.
Mason Mount was also taken off after what looked like an ankle knock but Frank Lampard assures us he will be playing in the Carabao Cup game this week against Chelsea.
With time running out and Derby looking to finish the day with three wins on the bounce and reach the summit of the Championship, a cross from the Middlesbrough right saw Jayden Bogel in the center of the Rams defense try to clear the ball but only managed to catch the ball with his shin. This set an unstoppable ball past the stranded Carson, who had just suffered a blow to his head from another Boro attack moments earlier. Carson looked to be visibly shaken or dazed by the clash and would most likely have come to collect the cross that Bogel was forced to deal with.
Jayden Bogle (right), unlucky to put through his own net to gift Middlesbrough a point at the Riverside.
The equaliser was timed at 84 minutes, so the Rams missed the opportunity of going top of the league (all be it temporarily) by just six minutes. Although disappointing print the Rams have put in a statement during the last week and have taken seven points out of nine from their rivals at the top of the Championship.
Now all eyes go to the mid-week clash at Stamford Bridge where Frank Lampard returns with his Derby County side and a couple of exciting players allowed to play against their parent team.
The Riverside Stadium
Championship
27/10/2018 1:30 pm
Referee: Peter Banks
| Middlesbrough | Derby County | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bogel (OG) 84 | Friend (OG) 19 | ||||||
| Randolph | Carson | ||||||
| Ayala | Malone | ||||||
| Flint | Tomori | ||||||
| Friend | Keogh | ||||||
| Downing | Bogle | ||||||
| Besic | Mount | ||||||
| Clayton | Huddlestone | ||||||
| Howson | Wilson | ||||||
| McNair | Lawrence | ||||||
| Fry | Marriott | ||||||
| Assombalonga | Waghorn | ||||||
Substitutes |
|||||||
| Lonergan | Roos | ||||||
| Batth | Bennett | ||||||
| Braithwaite | Forsyth | ||||||
| Gestede | Holmes | ||||||
| Hugill | Nugent | ||||||
| McQueen | Johnson Holmes | ||||||
| Saville | Jozefzoon | ||||||
Game Statistics |
||
| 10 | Goal attempts | 18 |
| 0 | On Target | 7 |
| 9 | Corners | 4 |
| 12 | Fouls | 10 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 41 | % | 59 |