Middlesbrough 2-0 Derby County

Patrick Bamford had a loan spell at Derby last season

• Bamford scores against his former club
• Boro joint top of the table
• Shotton sent off for visitors
• Miserable return to the Riverside for McClaren

Middlesbrough ended the day joint top of the Championship table after defeating previous leaders Derby County.

Ex-Derby loanee Patrick Bamford sidefooted in Adam Reach's cross after six minutes and was brought down by Ryan Shotton for a second-half penalty.

Shotton was dismissed before Grant Leadbitter converted from the spot.

Banned Boro boss Aitor Karanka watched from the stands but it made little difference to the impressive victors.

Derby, leaders at kick-off, were looking for only their second win at the Riverside this century.

But it was the hosts who made the perfect start when Chelsea starlet Bamford tucked away Reach's pass from seven yards.

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McClaren on Boro v Derby

It was the promising 21-year-old's sixth goal in seven games for Middlesbrough, with whom he wants to remain beyond the expiry of his loan deal in January.

Bamford, who would later depart to a standing ovation, came close to doubling the lead after collecting a Leadbitter through ball but was denied by Derby keeper Lee Grant, who completed a superb double save by palming away Jelle Vossen's rebound effort.

Jeff Hendrick wasted a rare first-half Derby chance, curling tamely at Dimitrios Konstantopoulos after a poor clearance by the Boro keeper.

McClaren made two changes at the break, with Omar Mascarell and Simon Dawkins replaced by Jordan Ibe and Leon Best.

But it failed to stifle the home side's dominance and the former Middlesbrough boss made his final change on the hour, replacing Hendrick with Will Hughes.

However, moments later things went from bad to worse for Derby when Shotton tripped Bamford in the area and saw red.

The lively Leadbitter thrashed the spot-kick low into Grant's net to put Boro, albeit temporarily, top of the Championship for the first time in two years.

They were later replaced by Bournemouth, who defeated Cardiff City 5-3.

Middlesbrough and Bournemouth have the same goal difference but the Cherries have scored more goals.

Middlesbrough manager 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."

Derby manager 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."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Middlesbrough

• 13Konstantopoulos
• 24Nsue
• 4AyalaBooked at 29mins
• 6Gibson
• 3Friend
• 27Adomah
• 8Clayton
• 7LeadbitterBooked at 81mins
• 20Reach
• 21VossenSubstituted forWildschutat 78'minutes
• 23BamfordSubstituted forKikeat 74'minutes

Substitutes

• 9Kike
• 17Husband
• 18Whitehead
• 22Omeruo
• 29Veljkovic
• 33Wildschut
• 40Mejias

Derby

• 1Grant
• 2Christie
• 6Keogh
• 32ShottonBooked at 62mins
• 3ForsythBooked at 75mins
• 8HendrickBooked at 53minsSubstituted forHughesat 61'minutes
• 33MascarellSubstituted forIbeat 45'minutes
• 4BrysonBooked at 71mins
• 11Russell
• 9Martin
• 7DawkinsSubstituted forBestat 45'minutes

Substitutes

• 5Buxton
• 16Coutts
• 19Hughes
• 21Roos
• 27Calero
• 30Best
• 44Ibe

Referee:

Roger East

Attendance:

17,434

Match Stats

Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamDerby

Possession

Home39%

Away61%

Shots

Home16

Away6

Shots on Target

Home7

Away2

Corners

Home6

Away3

Fouls

Home15

Away15

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Derby County 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Derby County 0.

Posted at 90'+3'

Craig Forsyth (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Kike (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Richard Keogh.

Posted at 90'+1'

Richard Keogh (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Kike (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 88'

Johnny Russell (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 87'

Attempt saved. Craig Bryson (Derby County) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Chris Martin.

Posted at 86'

Johnny Russell (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Yanic Wildschut (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 84'

Attempt blocked. George Friend (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Clayton.

Booking

Posted at 81'

Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 81'

Chris Martin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 80'

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Craig Bryson.

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Yanic Wildschut replaces Jelle Vossen.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Leon Best (Derby County).

Posted at 77'

Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 75'

Craig Forsyth (Derby County) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Ben Gibson.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kike replaces Patrick Bamford.

Posted at 73'

Jordon Ibe (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Adam Reach (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 73'

Attempt saved. Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Albert Adomah with a cross.

Posted at 72'

Chris Martin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough).

Booking

Posted at 71'

Craig Bryson (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Craig Bryson (Derby County).

Posted at 71'

Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Jordon Ibe (Derby County).

Posted at 70'

Jelle Vossen (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Will Hughes.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Leon Best (Derby County).

Posted at 68'

Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 67'

Attempt blocked. Craig Bryson (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 66'

Attempt saved. Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Goal!

Posted at 63'

Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Derby County 0. Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

Dismissal

Posted at 62'

Ryan Shotton (Derby County) is shown the red card.

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