Review: Derby 1 Middlesbrough 1
A late equaliser from Derby’s Johnny Russell denied
Middlesbrough their first away victory of the season, as two of the bookmaker’s
promotion favourites played out a 1-1 draw at the IPro Stadium
Russell, a first half substitute for the injured Jeff
Hendrick, stuck with two minutes of normal time remaining when he latched onto
Ryan Shotton’s long pass. The Rams had trailed the visitors for just over 80
minutes following Kike’s opener; it was Derby’s third straight draw of the new
campaign following stalemates with Bolton and Charlton.
Kike’s goal on 16 minutes was his third in two games and came
courtesy of George Friend’s though ball inside the penalty area, which the Spanish
striker cannoned across goal past Rams keeper Scott Carson.
Derby almost took the lead moments earlier when Hendrik’s
shot required an outstretched save from Dimi Konstantopulos. In the second half
Konstantopulos appeared to have earned Boro all three points when he kept out
Tom Ince’s free kick and Chris Martin’s header, but when Russell found space inside
penalty area the Boro keeper was unable to stop him as he salvaged a point for
the home side.