DERBY (4-3-3): Carson 6; Baird 5, Shackell 6, Keogh 6, Warnock 6; Thorne 6, Hanson 4 (Shotton 39, 6), Hendrick 5 (RUSSELL 43, 8); Ince 5, Martin 7, Weimann 6 (Bent 72).

Subs (not used): Grant (gk), Forsyth, Dawkins, Pearce.

 

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):

8 Konstantopoulos: Made three crucial saves – the best of which denied Ince – and was powerless to prevent Russell scoring

6 Kalas: Was solid for the vast majority of the night, but will feel he should have been closer to Russell when the substitute scored

8 GIBSON: Returned from a hamstring injury to make his first start of the season and made a succession of crucial interceptions

7 Ayala: Dominated in the air for most of the game, but was found wanting at a decisive moment as Bent won his late flick-on

7 Friend: Was excellent in defence and showed his attacking talents once again as he helped set up Kike’s goal

7 Leadbitter: Held things together at the heart of the Boro midfield and was especially influential in the first half

7 Clayton: Produced a typically committed display to frustrate Derby’s midfielders and has picked up where he left off last season

6 Adomah: Offered a threat on the counter-attack, and came close with a second-half strike that drifted narrowly wide

7 Fabbrini: Caught the eye for the second successive game in the ‘number ten’ role, with his dribbling ability troubling the Derby defence

6 Downing: Relatively quiet on the left-hand side but was willing to track back diligently in order to support his team-mates

7 Kike: His position is under threat following the arrival of Stuani and Nugent, but you can’t do much better than three goals in two games

 

Subs:

Reach (for Fabbrini, 74)

Stuani (for Kike, 77)

Forshaw (for Downing, 88)

(not used): Mejias (gk), Nsue, Stephens, Nugent.

 

Man Of The Match: BEN GIBSON – He wasn’t able to celebrate a clean sheet on his return to the side, but his performance at the heart of the back four underlined his maturity and quality.