The recent Jekyll and Hyde away performances from the Rams continued on the Riverside as the Rams not only slipped to defeat but also back into the flat footed mode that was last seen at Leeds.

Captain Keogh returned to the line-up as last weeks stand in skipper Buxton found himself back on the bench.

Boro looked bright from the opening as Derby looked near lethargic as the home team zipped around them like cones on a training ground.

This early energy resulted in the worst possible start when a cut back found former Ram Patrick Bamford (who bloody else would it be!!) whose shot should have been saved by Lee Grant but instead he only managed to get a weak touch on the ball which diverted the ball onto the post and in.

In fairness to Grant, the lead up to the goal too many Rams players were not busting a lung and were caught watching the play as it unfolded. They stopped running and Boro did not — which was pretty much the story for the rest of the half.

Derby’s passing was as bad as they have produced all season as time after time they gave the ball away cheaply. They tried to slice open Boro but instead each and every time they cut themselves on un-Derby like rusty passes.

Bamford was getting on the Rams nerves, not just because he scored but also by niggling the likes of Keogh and Shotton, the latter in particular obviously taking exception that the former Ram had stolen Niall Horan’s haircut and making sure he told him so before the ref told them to cool it.

Boro should have been 2 or 3 up and the Rams were lucky to still be in the match as half time approached with only 1 shot off target as the game ticked into injury time.

Just before the break Derby could have found an undeserved equaliser but Hendrick could only find the keeper after a cut back had found him unmarked in front of goal.

Half time and it all to do for the Rams.

HT: 1-0

Steve McClaren had no doubt taken some paint of the change room walls during half time at the Riverside in the past, but perhaps it was the first time he had done it in the visitor’s digs.

He showed his displeasure with two substitutions to start the second half as Best and Ibe replaced Dawkins and Mascarell.

It was now a very attacking line up but would a boot up the bum and a change of faces spark the league leaders into life?

Early exchanges suggested not as Boro looked the sharper again and Derby continued to look like they needed someone to stand up and lead the way.

Lee Grant stood up but only to Bamford who was now annoying the Derby keeper. If looks could kill Patrick would have dropped on the spot but like Boro he was alive and kicking — while the Rams looked like they were barely hanging on.

Poor passing and below average defending marred the first 15 minutes as Derby tried to commit suicide regularly. Luckily Boro could not manage to finish them off as they produced chance after chance — which was more than Derby deserved.

60 minutes gone and it was looking bleak for the Rams.

One more sub left and McClaren rolled the dice hoping that Hughes could give Derby something, anything.

Hughes didn’t have time to conjure a miracle as almost immediately Shotton gave them a penalty and the ref gave him a red card.

Bamford brought down in the box by Ryan, penalty taken by Leadbitter, Grant guessed the right direction but power won the day, Derby 2-0 to the bad and down to 10 men.

From here it was Lee Grant who stood in the way of Boro making it 3,4 or 5 as his defence played Russian roulette in front of him and he was forced to put together a seasons highlight reel in one half of football.

Bamford could have had a brace or hat-trick but thankfully before he got another he was taken off so the home fans could loudly remind us of what we had and let go.

Bryson could have scored late from a clever Martin flick but frankly we didn’t deserve the sniff a goal would have given, such was the dominance of the home team.

FT: 2-0

Derby were average and normally you would say we can all have bad days but with 3 losses on the road in their last 4 and all of those being average to terrible performances, you have to give it some attention.

I have no doubt that McClaren & team will be as aware of it as you or me and will be working day and night to find out if they can keep the switch on in future, rather than have it flicker just when it seems to be burning bright!

A bad day at the office, a worse one than the recent one at Leeds, especially as this wasn’t a physical shut down like at Elland Road, Boro purely and simply played us off the park.

That’s what Derby County have been doing and better start doing again on the road or it may become us chasing a top 2 finish rather than daring others to catch up.

Chelsea in the cup Tuesday night and until today that was a good thing but after today I am not so sure.

A good showing may do us the world of good — anything less may not be helpful hot on the heels of this one.

Let’s hope it’s the former.

Derby till I die — COYR!!

Man Of The Match — Lee Grant: Anyone else would have been best of a bad bunch but Grant shone as he saved the Rams time and time again. If he had not pulled off some classic saves it would have been a 5 plus defeat.

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: Roger East

Crowd:17,434

Derby: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Mascarell, Bryson , Hendrick (Hughes 60'), Dawkins (HT), Russell (HT), Martin.

Unused Subs: Roos, Buxton, Coutts, Calero

Match Stats — Boro / Rams:

Possession: 41% / 59% (really!!??)

Shots On Target: 6 / 2

Shots Off Target: 8 / 4

Corners: 6 / 3

Fouls: 15 / 13

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"Our performance was not the usual standard; it was poor. We talked all week about how organised this Middlesbrough side is. Normally we are around 80% in pass completion but I think today the figure will be nearer 50%.”

"Credit to Middlesbrough. Once they scored the first goal, they got their tails up and deserved to win."

They said — Aitor Karanka:

"I think it's the best afternoon of my career here. We played the best team in the league and are in a very good position in the table. It was a very good performance and I want to dedicate the victory to my staff because they are always with me.”

"I could not be on the bench and they were brilliant once again."

Highlights / Post Match Interviews:

Up Next For The Rams:

Derby vs. Chelsea

iPro Stadium

7:45pm - 16th of December

COYR!!

Photo: Action Images

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