Middlesbrough 2 Derby 0
Bamford 6 Leadbitter (Pen) 63
Steve McClaren said he rued the decision not to re-sign
Patrick Bamford at the end of last season; it took just six minutes for
everyone at the Riverside to see why.
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| Bamford has now scored 6 goals in 7 games |
Bamford, still owned by parent club Chelsea but on loan at
Middlesbrough, is in the form of his life and has now scored six in his last
seven games. He struck again as Boro knocked McLaren’s Derby off their perch at
the top of the Championship and extend their unbeaten record to eight games.
Boro captain Grant Leadbitter added a second from the penalty
spot after Derby defender Ryan Shotton was sent off. That followed Bamford’s
first half strike which opened the scoring, but this was far from a one or even
two man show from Aitor Karanka’s side who strung together an ominous team
performance to move top of the Championship after the lunch time kick off.
Derby were the league leaders coming into this game, the
second highest scorers in the division, yet they barely had a sniff at the Boro
goal. Their top goal scorer Chris Martin had more moans at the referee than touches
in the opposition penalty area that was largely down Boro’s compact shape which
rarely broke down.
Overall the hosts didn’t see much of the ball and the stats
may suggest Derby dominated with 61% possession. However most of that was spent
in the visitors own half as Boro pressed from the front, won the ball back in dangerous
areas and counter attacked sharply, in truth it could have been more than two.
Karanka made just one change from the team which crushed
Millwall at the New Den last weekend. Ben Gibson replaced Kenneth Omeruo in the
heart of defence as the Boro manager stuck with the 4-4-2 formation which
allows Bamford and Jelle Vossen to start together upfront.
Former Boro manager McLaren also made just the single change
from the Derby side which prevailed 3-0 at home to Brighton, captain Richard
Keogh returned at centre half replacing Jake Buxton.
As the league leaders Derby tried to stamp their authority
on the match from the kick-off, nevertheless it was Boro who scored with their
first genuine attack.
With six minutes gone Leadbitter won possession inside
opposition territory and fed the ball to Vossen whose path to goal was halted
by a Derby challenge. That wasn’t the end. Reach was first to the loose ball
and drove to the by-line, his cut back to Bamford was inviting and Boro’s in form
striker accepted the invitation to stroke the ball low into the far corner.
Spirits were up but work had to be done to channel the
following Derby pressure. In the middle of the park Leadbitter and Adam Clayton
were making up for the visitors extra man in midfield, while up top Bamford and
Vossen were working equally as hard to pin the opposition back.
In the 27th minute Boro received the chance to go
further ahead. Bamford was released through on goal, from a tight angle his
shot was palmed away by Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant who then made an even more
impressive save to deny Vossen’s follow up.
Clear cut chances were rare and Boro’s only other effort came
on the stroke of half time when Emilo Nsue’s deflected shot needed Grant to
intervene. There was still time for Derby to come up with their first shot on
target when a lapse in Boro’s back line allowed Jeff Hendrick to shoot but Dimi
Konstantopulos saved comfortably.
At half time McClaren made a double change allowing Derby to
go 4-4-2. Leon Best was introduced to act as an extra striker as Omar Mascarell
made way; on the left Jordan Ibe replaced Simon Dawkins.
Immediately the game was a much more open affair with the
chances falling Boro’s way. Reach looped a header just wide before the winger’s
cross caused chaos in the Derby penalty area. Vossen then had an effort blocked
before Grant saved Bamford’s shot on the rebound.
They came even closer when Grant kept out Daniel Ayala’s
glancing header on 58 minutes however it wasn’t long Boro landed the knockout
blow. Bamford broke clear inside the Derby penalty area and prepared to shoot,
in an attempt to stop him Shotton got nowhere near the ball with a late challenge
which earned him a straight red card and left his team facing a Leadbitter penalty
which the Boro skipper smashed past Grant.
Bamford nearly added a deserved second when he turned Albert
Adomah’s low cross goal bound only to be denied by another specular save from
Grant. That proved to be his last contribution as he was replaced by Kike with
18 minutes to go, a standing ovation was well deserved as was the one for
Vossen who made way for Yanic Wildchut moments later.
Derby could have set up a nervy finish with four minutes to
go when Ibe cut the ball back to Craig Bryson forcing Konstatopulos into
action, but this was Boro’s day “We are top of the league” was the chant at
full time. For a few hours at least.
Player Ratings
Dimi Konstantopulos
7- Made two saves when he had to, not much to do
George Friend 6.5-
Russell caused him problems in the first half
Daniel Ayala 7.5- Commanding
figure at the back
Ben Gibson 6.5- Got
caught in possession a few times but got away with it
Emilo Nsue 7- Had
little problem defensively and got forward well in the second half
Grant Leadbitter (C) 8.5-
Picked up the loose ball and made up for Derby’s extra midfielder
Adam Clayton 8.5-
Battled tirelessly in midfield, put in challenge after challenge
Adam Reach 7.5
caused problems on the left all game
Albert Adomah 6.5-
Quiet at times came alive more in the second half
Patrick Bamford 8.5-
Now scored 6 in 7, a handful all game
Jelle Vossen 7.5-
Defended from the front and was sharp on the counter
Subs
Kike 6.5- Came on
for last 18 minutes held the ball up well
Yanic Wildchut – came on for the last 12 minutes not enough
time to give a fair rating
My Boro Man Of The Match: Grant Leadbitter
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