Harry Wilson bagged the Sky Bet Chmpionship’s first goal of 2019 but Derby County were forced to settle with a 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium against Middlesbrough.
In a battle between the fifth and sixth-place teams in the table it was the Rams that held the upper hand for the majority of the game.
Wilson fired the home side to the lead after just two minutes before Jordan Hugill found the equaliser early in the second-half to give the same scoreline for both fixtures between the teams this season.
The draw meant the Rams remain sixth while Boro remain fifth in the table.
The Ram’s 2019 got off to the perfect start as Harry Wilson picked up how he left off in 2018 with his left foot creating the same magic. Andre Wisdom send a lovely pass down to Jack Marriott who played through to the Welshman.
After a couple of touches, Wilson drove a low shot into the bottom corner to give Derby the lead inside two minutes.
The Rams kept control from there as Boro struggled to find a way into the game, but real chances didn’t fall at either end.
George Saville had the best opportunity for the visitors in the first 45 minutes, however he failed to capitalise on a free-kick from a dangerous position and drilled his effort into the wall.
The Rams had multiple players receive treatment in the first-half including Jack Marriott after a cynical challenge by Saville and Wilson who was replaced early on in the second-half by Tom Huddlestone after going down again.
Middlesbrough found the equaliser seven minutes into the second-half. Hugill headed into the bottom corner on the end of a cross from the right.
They almost doubled that lead moments later when Batth headed on from close-range but somehow Scott Carson instinctively manages to bat it away for it to then be cleared from danger.
The Rams took back momentum and made some good runs that Boro managed to deal with. David Nugent looked to make immediate impact straight off the bench glancing an effort just wide after being played through by Huddlestone.
With five minutes to go, Andre Wisdom powered down the left and squared to Nugent who’s first touch rifled towards goal but went direct to Darren Randoplph. Mason Mount then found space outside the area for an effort that glanced wide.
Derby County: Carson; Bogle, Keogh (C), Tomori, Wisdom; Evans (Nugent, 77), Mount, Wilson (Huddlestone, 49); Waghorn (Holmes, 69), Marriott, Jozefzoon
Unused Subs: Bryson, Pearce, Roos, Lowe
Middlesbrough: Randolph; Fry, Batth, Ayala Friend (C); Howson, Wing, Besic, Saville (Downing, 71); Clayton; Hugill (Assombalonga, 87)
Unused Subs: Lonergan, McNair, Tavernier, Gestede, Fletcher