3/1 To Win
Derby County were defeated 1-0 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The game was at a stalemate after a close-fought first half saw neither side significantly troubling the goals, with midfielder Ebou Adams coming closest for Derby from distance.
Finn Azaz broke the deadlock as he netted for the hosts to give them the lead with ten minutes of regulation time remaining.
Key Moments
Adams had Derby’s first opportunity of the game when he struck the ball first time from distance in the fourth minute. His left-footed strike on the edge of the box forced goalkeeper Mark Travers into action to make the save and parry the ball away from danger.
Boro looked for an immediate response down the other end of the field as a quick attack found Tommy Conway in position to cross into a packed penalty area, but the cross was swept up by Jacob Widell Zetterström in Derby’s goal.
Zetterström and centre-back Sondre Langås made crucial blocks as Middlesbrough looked close to opening the scoring in the 16th minute when Marcus Forss was played into space inside the penalty area. The Finnish striker forced a save from the goalkeeper before Langås put his body in the way of the rebound.
Boro maintained the majority of possession through the half, but Derby’s defence held firm, with Harrison Armstrong and Ryan Nyambe both making strong tackles to deny attacks from the hosts as they were looking dangerous.
Morgan Whittaker fizzed a shot wide of the post in the 41st minute as he had an effort from distance, with neither side able to trouble the goalkeepers with the contest having been at stalemate for the majority of the first half.
Forss came near with a strike that was blocked by Craig Forsyth and the hosts continued to apply pressure just before the half-time break as Finn Azaz struck the post with his curling effort from the edge of the penalty area before the whistle blew.
Neto Borges’ charging run down the left flank created the first chance of the second half as he squared the ball in-field to Whittaker who had a pot-shot from distance that was easily collected by the Rams’ goalkeeper.
Derby looked to make inroads down the left wing as Elder and Harness were able to deliver into the box after a bright start, but Derby couldn’t finish off a move as they looked to grow into the game.
Liam Thompson came on for Tom Barkhuizen as John Eustace made Derby’s first change in the 65th minute.
Whittaker hit a low strike close in the 66th minute, but Zetterström was equal to the effort. Adams fired over after good work from Harrison won a free kick 20 yards out. It was taken short and Harness delivered into the box from the wing for Adams to hit, but the midfielder’s attempt couldn’t hit the target.
The second batch of changes for the Rams saw Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, Kenzo Goudmijn and Ben Osborn enter the field of play with Yates, Harness and Armstrong departing in the 77th minute.
Thompson wound up a shot moments later, as some positive play saw him running at the Boro defence with Salvesen and Jackson flanking him, but he opted to shoot but went wide of the mark.
Azaz broke the deadlock in the 80th minute after the ball dropped to him in the penalty area where he made no mistake.
Kemar Roofe was Derby's final change of the match, as he replaced Kayden Jackson in the 83rd minute. As the Rams pushed forward looking for an equaliser they won a free-kick and corner in quick succession, but Boro’s defence held firm.
Boro substitute Delano Burgzorg look to hit them on the break, double the host’s lead in added time, but he struck the post in one of the final acts of the contest.
Team News
Middlesbrough: Travers (GK), Ayling (C) (Giles 61), Fry, Dijksteel, Morris, Conway (Illing-Junior 83), Hackney, Borges, Whittaker, Forss (Iheanacho 72), Azaz (Burgzorg 83).
On The Bench: Glover (GK), Barlaser, Howson, Dede, McCabe.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Nyambe, Langås, Forsyth, Elder, Adams (C), Armstrong (Osborn 77), Harness (Goudmijn 77), Jackson (Roofe 83), Barkhuizen (Thompson 65), Yates (Salvesen 77).
On The Bench: Vickers (GK), Phillips, Rooney, Ebuka Agbawodikeizu.
Referee: Gavin Ward
Assistant Referees: Lee Venamore, Darren Williams
Fourth Official: David Webb
What’s Next?
Derby return to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 8th March for the visit of Blackburn Rovers in the Sky Bet Championship (3pm kick-off).
