Source: Northern_Echo
Lita earns Boro a late point at Derby
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 that he could finally head back to Teesside with a promotion boosting three points in the bag.[LNB] But in the end the Scotland midfielder was indebted to a last-minute equaliser from Leroy Lita that saved Middlesbrough from a defeat that would have done nothing to help the drive for a play-off place.[LNB] Two goals inside seven second half minutes from Chris Porter and Michael Tonge had looked like winning it for Derby, particularly when Rhys Williams was red-carded three minutes from time.[LNB] But then Lita, a second half substitute, arrived inside the box to head his eighth of the season to secure a point that leaves Middlesbrough six points shy of the play-offs.[LNB] The situation still looks difficult for Boro, whose only win away from home in their last seven matches was at Doncaster in January when 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 back-to-back matches in the hope that it would help close the gap to the top six.[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, it was Middlesbrough that looked the most dangerous when they worked their way deep into the opposition's half.[LNB] That might not have been all that often during the opening half, but when they did they looked capable of scoring.[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 Scotland international steadied himself and struck a sweet right-foot 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 for when striker Gilles Sunu headed a Jay McEveley free-kick over just 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 Middlesbrough 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 delivery 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 the free-kick.[LNB] But moments later Clough decided to withdraw Robbie Savage, replacing him with striker Porter. 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 flying in the top corner by Coyne and Porter jumped first at the back post to nod in the equaliser.[LNB] Middlesbrough never looked comfortable after that and just seven minutes later Derby turned the game completely 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.[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 Middlesbrough had earned a point, which was just reward for a promising opening hour.[LNB]
