Mears swings in a cross but Schwarzer is there to collect the ball.

Downing comes off as the visitors give Adam Johnson a run out.

Aliadiere brings down Mears as 'Boro try to hold onto this match and time is running out for Derby.

Derby get desperate as Earnshaw fires in a shot from 30 yards but it doesn't trouble Schwarzer who saves and holds on well.

Pearson gets forward and sends in a deligtful ball onto the head of Moore who heads agonisingly into the arms of the waiting Schwarzer.

Jeremie Aliadiere whips in a cross after overlapping with Rochemback who fires in a shot which is saved well by Bywater; perhaps 'Boro are going to pile on the pressure late on?

McvEveley swings in a corner but Schwarzer comes out and puches clear for the home side as they hang on.

Derby bring off Miller for Robert Earnshaw, perhaps the fresh legs will bring them a goal.

O'Neil swings in a cross for the head of Miller but the ball is cleared at the last minute.

Barnes misses the shot from 20 yards but the ball lands to the feet of Pearson who lets off a cracker at goal but Luke Young gets his body in the way of the body as 'Boro hold on.

Tuncay is fired up for this game and looks as though he might be through on goal but brings down Davis jut outside the box; Derby escape once more but surely 'Boro aren't far off claiming another goal.

Downing finds himself in space and lets off a shot from 18 yards but Bywater gets across well to cut out the shot and make the save.

Barnes fies forward with the ball and decides to let off a shot but Schwarzer leaps across his goal to save the shot and hold on.

Teale makes way for Steven Howard as Derby strive for a goal against a tiring Middlesbrough defence.

Rochemback takes the corner ball but Davis raises well and clears the ball off the head of George Boateng but the midfielder gets back well and heads towards goal but Bywater tips it round for a corner.

Downing gets forward and fires in a good looking shot which Bywater does well to tip round the post as 'Boro win another corner.

The visitors look to get forward and hit Derby on the break but Tuncay goes in a little to hard on Davis and Bywater sends the ball up field.

Downing sends in the corner ball and McEveley clears the ball well.

O'Neil curls in the ball for the box but Tyrone Mears gets up well to clear the ball behind for the corner.

Rochemback swings the ball into the box but the Derby defence get in the way and clear the ball.

'Boro win possession back but the vsitors put the ball straight out of play. This is a big match for both sides.

The second half kicks off and Derby begin proceedings at a pedestrian pace.

The referee brings a dull half to a close here at Pride Park and Derby have it all to do in the second 45.

Miller find Leacock with a cross from the wing but the latter, not known for his striking, sends the ball wide of the post!

Gary Teale - former Wigan midfielder under Paul Jewell - breaks forward and sends in a cross but the ball is collecte, mid-air by Schwarzer.

Dean Leacock swings in a cross but Wheater clears the ball well to evade danger for his team.

Derby break down the other end and have a chance of their own, Kenny Miller finds himself in space and fires in a shot at goal which smashes back off the post.

Stewart Downing breaks away down the right and crosses the ball into the box for Sanli TUNCAY who places the ball past Bywater with ease and runs off to the visiting support with his arms aloft.

Pearson runs across to take a corner which is dealt with well but the ball comes back in andcleared by his nemesis for the day Wheater and out for a throw-in.

Pearson and Wheater come together ye again although this time it's through a free-kick which the former wins.

Free-kick taker Griffin comes off the field to be replaced by Jay McEveley as the home side look to go forward.

A carbon copy free-kick as Griffin sends in the free-kick but Wheater gets up well and sends the ball out of play with his head.

Woodgate goes in hard on Miller yet again and draws up another free-kick, the former has not had a great season so far.

This match was never going to be a classic but neither side is going for it, all it takes is one team to attack as neither side looks capable to handle an onslaught in the division so far.

Andy Griffin steps up to take the set-piece but the ball in is awful and is cleared easily by David Wheater up to the half-way line.

Jonathan Woodgate brings down Kenny Miller and the Rams have a great opportunity from 25 yards.

Stephen Pearson breaks forward and lifts in a cross but Schwarzer comes out to collect the ball with ease.

It's all Derby at the minute, the visitors don't seem to be able to cope with the pressure from the Rams.

Oakley races forward and lets off a shot just oustide the are but his effort is saved and held onto be Schwarzer who is growing in frustration.

The Derby support are really behind their side here, perhaps they see this as a game they must win to save their chances of Premiership survival.

Giles Barnes surges forward and lets off a stinging shot which is saved and caught well by Mark Schwarzer who is furious with his defence.

Emanuel Pogatetz makes his way down the right, unmarked by the Derby defences but as the ball is swung in Darren Moore gets up to smash the ball away with his head.

The game breaks down slightly and ends up in midfield as Matty Oakley and George Boateng fight for possession.

Fabio Rochemback takes the resultng free-kick into the box but as the ball flies forward Tyrone Mears gets up well to head clear as Stewart Downing races in at the back post.

Claude Davis lunges in on Jeremie Aliadiere who goes to ground, the referee blows up for the first free-kick of the game.

Gary O'Neil breaks forward and tries a shot from the right hand side which flies towards goal but is saved and caught by Stephen Bywater.

Boro' earn a throw-in but make nothing of it, resulting in open play, but the game has started brightly.

Middlesbrough get the game underway and look to force pressue on the Premiers' bottom club straight from the start.

Middlesbrough XI: Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Woodgate, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Aliadiere, Sanli

Derby XI: Bywater, Mears, Davis, Moore, Griffin, Teale, Oakley, Leacock, Pearson, Barnes, Miller

Middlesbrough go into this match fresh off unexpected victory against Arsenal last weekend and will buoyant of another victory against the Premier League's bottom side.

Derby manager Paul Jewell has a close to full strength squad going into today's encounter with Middlesbrough but the former Wigan man is without the injured Andy Todd for this match.