Source: Northern_Echo
Derby County 2 Middlesbrough 2
Derby County 2 Middlesbrough 2[LNB] BARRY ROBSON has found goals a little easier to come by than prime cuts of beef since his move south to Middlesbrough, but tasting an away victory is proving to be as difficult as finding his perfect butcher.[LNB] After powering in his fifth goal in his last seven matches after quarter of an hour at Pride Park, Robson must have been confident of heading back to Teesside with a promotion- boosting three points in the bag.[LNB] But in the end the Scotland midfielder, who last week admitted the one aspect of North-East life he was struggling to come to terms with since his January move from Celtic was a lack of decent meat, was indebted to a lastminute equaliser from Leroy Lita to save Boro from defeat.[LNB] Two goals inside seven second-half minutes from Chris Porter and Michael Tonge looked like winning it for Derby, particularly when Rhys Williams was red-carded three minutes from time.[LNB] But Lita, a second-half substitute, arrived inside the box to head his eighth of the season to secure a point that leaves Boro six points shy of the play-offs.[LNB] The chase for seventh spot still looks difficult for Boro, whose only win away from home in their last seven matches was at Doncaster in January, a game for which Robson was missing.[LNB] Strachan has been striving for consistency and a barometer of the satisfaction he felt after Saturday's display against Newcastle was the way he kept the same team last night.[LNB] It may have taken nearly five months but this was the first time he had named the same starting line-up in backto- back matches.[LNB] Despite having the manager's faith, there were plenty of opportunities for Derby to put a dent in such aspirations, with Middlesbrough looking far from solid at the back.[LNB] However, while Nigel Clough's men did plenty of pressing and forced Danny Coyne into a save from Rob Hulse's drive, Boro looked the most dangerous when they worked their way deep into the opposition's half.[LNB] Robson had already witnessed a free-kick from 25 yards deflect for a corner before he delivered another reminder of the sort of goal he used to score for fun during his days at Dundee United.[LNB] It stemmed from Andrew Taylor's deep delivery into the box. Chris Killen leapt high to meet it and Nicky Hunt's half clearance fell to the unmarked Robson.[LNB] With the ball taking an age to drop, the Scot steadied himself and struck a sweet rightfoot volley beyond goalkeeper David Martin's outstretched left hand.[LNB] To have taken the lead against a team boasting ten wins at Pride Park this season was another mark of the gradual progress being made under Strachan and it took some of the drive out of Derby.[LNB] Clough's team still passed the ball confidently, but they were unable to pose a threat to Coyne except when striker Gilles Sunu headed a Jay McEveley free-kick over before half-time.[LNB] Sunu, an 18-year-old on loan from Arsenal, never really looked like posing too much of a threat to a defence that was again marshalled competently by Stephen McManus.[LNB] And after the restart Boro looked like extending their lead. Williams should have done better than miss the target when a goalmouth scramble fell kindly to him after Robson's delivery from the right.[LNB] David Wheater also volleyed over after working his way ahead of his marker to meet a decent ball from Kyle Naughton, before Scott McDonald had a goal ruled out for offside.[LNB] Derby's failure to stay solid gifted Killen, bandaged up after a head clash with Shaun Barker, the chance to turn inside and force Martin into a low save. McDonald slid in to force the rebound over the line, but referee David Phillips awarded a free-kick.[LNB] But moments later Clough decided to withdraw Robbie Savage, replacing him with striker Porter.[LNB] His introduction meant that McManus and Co had to deal with a more adventurous attack for the remainder of the half and it took them just four minutes to cave in.[LNB] A dangerous cross from McEveley was palmed away from the top corner by Coyne and Porter jumped first at the back post to nod in the equaliser.[LNB] Boro never looked comfortable after that and just seven minutes later Derby turned the game around by scoring a sweet second.[LNB] Middlesbrough failed to clear a couple of routine balls into the area properly and, from the second, Tonge arrived to meet a half clearance with a sweet volley that deflected into Coyne's bottom right corner.[LNB] Taylor went close to hitting an unlikely equaliser in the closing stages and there looked no way back when Williams was red carded for his second booking for a late lunge on Dean Leacock.[LNB] But Robson's free-kick into the area was flicked goalwards by Lita and Boro earned a rewarding point.[LNB] Matchfacts Goals: Robson (15, 0-1); Porter (67, 1- 1); Tonge (74, 2-1); Lita (90, 2-2) Bookings: Wheater (39, foul); Williams (45, foul); Lita (90, taking shirt off) Sending-off: Williams (87, second bookable offence) Referee: David Phillips (Brighton) 6 Attendance: 27,143 Entertainment: [LNB] DERBY COUNTY (4-5-1): Martin 6; Hunt 4 (Leacock 74), Anderson 7, Barker 7, McEveley 6; Tonge 7, Savage 5 (Porter 63, 6), Green 6, PEARSON 7; Sunu 5 (Martin 86); Hulse 5. Subs (not used): Deeney (gk), Buxton, Pringle, Moxey.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Coyne 6; Naughton 4 (Hoyte 67, 5), McManus 7, Wheater 7, A Taylor 6; ROBSON 8, O'Neil 6, Williams 5, Arca 6 (Miller 82); Killen 6 (Lita 73), McDonald 5. Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Riggott, Emnes, Grounds.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH BARRY Robson fast becoming one of the best in the Championship.[LNB]
