Middlesbrough 2 Derby County 0

TWO goals from Adam Johnson eased Boro to a comfortable win and to within a point of the top as both Newcastle and West Brom lost, reports GORDON COX from the Riverside.

The Boro side showed two changes from Saturday's defeat to Watford, with Justin Hoyte being preferred to Tony McMahon at right-back and Rhys Williams returning to midfield at the expense of Mark Yeates.

Nigel Clough made two injury-enforced changes to his Derby side that drew 0-0 with Leicester at the weekend, with Paul Connolly and James McEveley replacing Fredrik Stoor and Lee Croft in the starting line-up.

Derby only had enough fit players to name six substitutes.

The visitors started in conservative fashion, allowing Boro to dictate the pace and build pressure.

Adam Johnson was the first to cause problems as he chased a long ball but was forced wide round goalkeeper Stephen Bywater and had to pass through the penalty area.

He threaded the ball to Gary O'Neil but he checked inside instead of shooting first time and when he did deliver, his shot took a deflection and went out for a corner.

A good cross from Hoyte had Bywater in two minds as Boro attacked from the right this time and the clearance was scrambled but effective.

Derby's injury concerns were well chronicled before the game and within the opening 20 minutes became worse as they lost Kris Commons with a hamstring problem, then James McEveley after he put in a poor challenge on Hoyte and came off far worse.

He was taken to hospital with a suspected broken cheekbone. 

Matters for the visitors became even worse with 22 minutes played as Boro got the breakthrough they deserved. Adam Johnson cut in from the left and was caught just inside the penalty area by Shaun Barker.

He sent the resulting penalty well out of Bywater's reach, although perhaps more central than he may have wanted.

It was Boro's first goal at home for 297 minutes.

Another may have come from a quick break as Leroy Lita was picked out with a telling ball from Rhys Williams, but Dean Leacock moved across quickly to cover and block a low shot, which went for a corner.

O'Neil was next to threaten, a low drive from just inside the box again cut out before it reached Bywater.

Although a relatively muted atmosphere may have suggested otherwise, Boro were firmly in command against a side that seemed to lack belief, brought about by their injury-enforced depletion.

The only concern was is that Boro remained just one goal in front.

Half-time: Middlesbrough 1 Derby County 0

Boro continued to dominate possession and there was a strong feeling that a second goal for them at this stage and it would effectively be game over.

But while there was just the single goal deficit, Derby were just one strike away from the unlikely.

A poor challenge from Paul Dickov on a man just over half his age left Joe Bennett in pain and in need of treatment. Dickov escaped with nothing other than a word of warning and went on to have the visitors' first meaningful shot after 55 minutes - Brad Jones was more than equal to a low 25-yard drive that fizzed across greasy turf.