Middlesbrough 1 Derby County 1

THE conditions played a large part in the game as a string wind made good football difficult to produce.

But both sides did their best, with Boro the better side for the opening 20 minutes, threatening to run away with the game. Starting with a 4-5-1 formation, they switched to 4-4-2, depending on the state of play, but looked comfortable either way.

It was not surprise when they took the lead with 23 minutes played as a well worked corner was played to Joe Bennett who smashed a drive into the top corner of the net.

Credit to Derby, they worked their way back into the game, through there was an element of fortune with their equaliser when Boro skipper Ashley Corker unluckily saw the ball ricochet off his shin an past Jason Steele.

The second half was a largely scrappy affair, but Boro created good chances for Jason White, David Hillerby, Nathan Porritt and Gary Bonar.

Team: Steele; Furness, Corker (Capt.), Burton, Bennett (Harris 71), Robinson, Franks, Hillerby, Bonar (White 58), Martin, Porritt (Cronesberry 83). Unused sub: Atkinson (gk).