Derby County 0 Middlesbrough 1

TUNCAY made it three goals in three games with a spectacular winner this afternoon, writes GORDON COX from Pride Park.

Mark Schwarzer returned in goal as Ross Turnbull dropped to the bench as the side showed one change from the line up against Arsenal.

For his first home game, Derby manager Paul Jewell made two changes from the side which lost at Old Trafford with Jay McEveley dropping to the bench and Craig Fagan missing out altogether, as Gary Teale and Tyrone Mears returned.

This game was a sell-out for Boro fans, who travelled in numbers and good humour through freezing fog as their team played at Pride Park for the first time in five years.

Conditions had lifted to a couple of degrees above freezing come kick-off, but there was a good atmosphere

Boro enjoyed most of the early possession, with Derby adopting a 4-5-1 formation, leaving Kenny Miller on his own.

The first chance came with less than four minutes played as Tuncay found Gary O'Neil on the left-hand edge of the Derby penalty area. O'Neil cut inside the box and shot to the near post where Stephen Bywater grabbed at the second attempt.

Tenacity from O'Neil won Boro a throw deep in Derby territory and Boro applied more pressure. But neither Stewart Downing nor Fabio Rochemback could find the inspiring touch to create a clear chance.

Forays from the Rams were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes, but within the space of three minutes Giles Barnes and skipper Matt Oakley had Schwarzer in action as he comfortably dealt with shots from outside the penalty area.

Boro were playing better, more controlled football than a Derby side who lacked quality decision making. But the home side were keen in the tackle and as a result the shape of the game was difficult to ascertain - plenty of pace, but a dash of quality was certainly needed.

Jewell was forced into a change just short of the hour mark when former Newcastle defender Andy Griffin limped off with what looked like a thigh problem and was replaced by McEveley.

Derby upped the tempo and caught Boro flat-footed 11 minutes from the break as Stephen Pearson was picked out unmarked inside the Boro box, but he delayed his shot which was eventually blocked. From the follow up McEveley was first to the ball and a 25-yard drive had Schwarzer diving away to his right to stop.

Quality was called for and that was delivered in style with 37 minutes played as Downing swung over a deep cross from the left and Tuncay, 13 yards from goal and side on to it, sent a powerful left-footed volley flying past Bywater for his third goal in as many games.

Derby didn't fold as they have done on so many occasions this season and instead came back at Boro. Miller sent a shot on the turn from the D inches wide of Schwarzer's right-hand post with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Half-time: Derby County 0 Middlesbrough 1

Boro created a chance in the first minute of the second half when Jeremie Aliadiere forced a corner, Rochemback swung over and Tuncay just failed to make contact when sliding in on the edge of the six-yard box.

Buoyed by fans chanting his name, Tuncay took possession in the centre circle and set off for the Derby penalty area on the edge of which he played in Downing, whose low shot was tipped away at full stretch by Bywater and O'Neil arrived just too late at the back post when attempting to follow-up.

Less than a minute and another scramble inside the Derby box later, Rochemback read the flight of the ball much better than his closest marker, peeled away down the right and sent over a fine cross to the back post which was missed by everyone except George Boateng, whose header from the edge of the six-yard box came back off Bywater's right-hand post.

Derby awoke and Boro sustained a period of pressure as the Rams won two corners in quick succession and Schwarzer saved a low drive from Oakley.

The home side continued to press and Jewell's final substitution almost paid off 17 minutes from time as Robert Earnshaw read a flick well, but Schwarzer, in good form, was out quickly to just beat the Welshman to the ball.

A reluctance to shoot comes from a lack of confidence and with just one goal in eight games before today, maybe that was understandable from a Derby side who lacked nothing in effort.

But with three players in quick succession electing to pass in or on the edge of the Boro box, frustration grew among the home fans.

O'Neil had taken a knock earlier in the game and Adam Johnson stood by to replace him, but as the change was about to take place the former Portsmouth player signalled he was okay to continue.

A sharp shot on the turn from Barnes on then edge of the area was well held by Schwarzer, but when another Derby effort went high over the bar, many home fans decided they had seen enough.

For all their endeavour, the fact remains that Derby have now lost seven games in succession and have scored just once in nine games.

In-form Boro, on the contrary, are now unbeaten in five of their last six games.

Derby County: Bywater; Griffin (McEveley 29), Moore, Davis, Teale (Howard 55), Leacock, Mears, Oakley (Capt), Pearson, Barnes, Miller (Earnshaw 73). Unused subs: Price (gk); Lewis.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng (Capt), Rochemback, Downing (Johnson 89), Aliadiere, Tuncay. Unused subs: Turnbull (gk); Huth, Cattermole, Lee.

Referee Rob Styles, Waterlooville, Hampshire.

Bookings

Derby County: None

Middlesbrough: None

Attendance: 32,676

Conditions: Cold and still

Website Boro Man of the Match: Tuncay, with Mark Schwarzer close behind.