Boro Bemused By Another Late Goal

Middlesbrough   2           Derby    2

                                        Jutkiewicz 18   81                             Robinson 15 (Pen)

                                                                                                   Coutts  87

A flat Riverside crowd reflected the performance of a Middlesbrough side currently struggling to keep up with the Championship front runners, after a another late goal in successive home games saw more points slip through the net of a hopeful top six finish.

The mid-week game saw Boro record their lowest ever league attendance, slipping below the 14,000 barrier for only the second time ever. However despite the low crowd the players hardly offered much to shout about against Derby in a second half of very few chances when the sides were locked together at a goal a piece.

Derby celebrate as Boro let another lead slip

With by far from the most convincing performance Tony Mowbray's side thought they had stolen the game at the death. Lukas Jukiewicz's towering header seven minutes from time left the home fans thinking they had escaped with the points. 

However reminiscent of Saturday's match Boro were unable to close the game out failing to clear their lines late on before Paul Coutts slotted home the equalizer from inside the area to claim a point for his side.

Mowbray made two changes from the side that started against Leicester at the weekend Seb Hines replacing the injured Jonathan Woodgate while Luke Williams came in for Merouane Zemmama. But with Adam Reach and Mustapha Carayol still out injured the side again looked short of width and pace in midfield.

Boro made the brighter start from the kickoff retaining the ball in the opening ten minutes. However it was Derby who moved ahead with fifteen minutes played when referee Michael Naylor pointed to the spot after Andre Bikey and Grant Leadbitter merged together to bring down Craig Bryson before Theo Robinson took the resulting penalty firmly into the bottom left hand corner.

The Boro supporters, angered by the penalty decision, were quick to make thier opinions heard spurring on their team to level the score three minutes later. When Leadbitter's free kick was parried, by Derby keeper Frank Fielding, into the path of Jutkiewicz for a tap in.

The game then began to settle as Boro's deep midfield again frustrated their fans. The hosts did begin to create some chances as the half went on. Williams firing his shot just wide after half an hour before Bikey stung the palms of the keeper from range after beating two players in the process.

In the second half Mowbray's patient style of football saw the ball continuously played sideways or back as Derby defended in numbers, proving tough to break down. The lack of goal mouth action made things very difficult, for an already low crowd, to get excited about or make a impact on the game.

The introduction of Zemmama sparked some life into the game after his untroubled run into the Derby half was followed by a shot just wide. However the Moroccan's next involvement proved more telling as his cross was met by Jutkiewicz who headed into the top corner of the net.

But there was still time for a late twist in the match after Bikey's header from a Leadbitter's free kick sailed wide, Derby soon shared the points when the ball fell to Coutts in space to make it more late heartache for the Boro players and fans.

Mowbray later said there are no excuses but the injures to key players (Emnes,Williams,Carayol,Reach and Miller) have been a factor.

Player Ratings        

Jason Steele   6.5- Not much he could have done about the goals showing good constancy

George Friend   7- Again looked a threat going forward all round solid performance

Seb Hines   6.5- Won a lot of balls in the air safe replacement for Woodgate

Andre Bikey   6.5- A bit clumsy when conceded the penalty always trying to move Boro forward

Justin Hoyte   6- Found lots of space on the wing but was rarely found

Nikey Bailey   6.5- Not afraid to make a tackle in midfield played deep role first half then switched to the right

Kevin Thompson   5.5- Played in wider position than usual in the first half but offering little width to the team  

Grant Leadbitter   5.5- Good set piece delivery but gave a few silly fouls away in midfield

Josh McEachran   5- Very quiet game ineffective in the middle or on the wing

Luke Williams   5.5- Tough game struggled to get on the ball

Lukas Jutkiewicz   7- Two goals keep persisting before finally getting his second 

Subs    

Merouane Zemmama   6- Added a spark to the game provided cross for second goal later came off again with hamstring problem

Emmanuel Ledesma   4.5- Committed too many fouls when coming on couldn't produce as much going forward