TONY PULIS admitted his team had been poor but had ground out a point during their 1-1 draw with Derby County, a game that saw two own goals.

The Rams dominated the first half, but Frank Lampard’s side were unable to add to the own goal by George Friend after 19 minutes despite cutting through the home team’s defence on numerous occasions.

Boro goalkeeper Darren Randolph making a handful of saves to keep the score down, his most eye-catching save being to push away a Harry Wilson volley.

And with six minutes to go Derby’s Jayden Bogle also scored past his own goalkeeper, volleying into the net when attempting to clear, giving Boro a point that saw them go top of the table before the rest of the day’s games were played.

Pulis said: “In the first half we started really, really poor, really on the back foot. We did some work this week about getting up to the ball and we started really on the back foot.

“We got really sloppy. Aden Flint plays a ball out to Paddy McNair, he flicks one out. We get Mo Besic doing a Cruyff turn on the edge of the box and then Adam Clayton has three or four touches, it just gave them the momentum.

“Randolph has kept us in the game and at 1-0 you’ve always got an opportunity and a chance. Second half, the game wasn’t as fluid but we ground it out.

“We worked very, very hard. The lads had a right go and I’ve been involved in games when we’ve played exceptionally well and lost and played exceptionally well and not won a game, so today we haven’t played that well but we’ve ground out a point.”