San-sational!

Derby County 0 - 1 BORO

BORO recorded their first back-to-back league win of the season this weekend as Tuncay Sanli scored his third goal in as many games.

It was a less than entertaining display from two teams battling relegation but, as expected, there was plenty of grit and determination at Pride Park on Saturday.

BORO started brighter and Gary O'Neil was presented with the first chance after a superb chipped pass from in-form striker Tuncay, but his first touch was less than convincing and so his weak shot was easily saved by Stephen Bywater.

New Derby boss, Paul Jewell, was handed a further reason to feel glum, having taken over a team rock-bottom of the league, when defender Andy Griffin picked up a knock and had to be replaced mid-way through the first.

The game seemed to tip both ways as both teams battled for an opener, but it was BORO who bagged the first goal in the 38th minute as Matt Oakley was caught in possession by David Wheater; whose hopeful down-field punt was leaped upon by Stewart Downing who glided a pin-point cross into the box for Tuncay to latch onto with a sensational first time left footed volley past the helpless Stephen Bywater to mark his third goal in his last three appearances.

However, the goal seemed to serve as a boost for the home side as they mounted a series of attacks to launch a comeback. Derby had a dubious penalty appeal turned away by referee Rob Styles just before half time as Kenny Miller seemed to be pulled down by David Wheater, but replays showed that, whilst Wheater was holding Miller, the striker was also backing into Wheater.

Downing produced a good save from Stephen Bywater, just after the break, as Aliadiere and Tuncay combined in a great piece of attacking play before skipper George Boateng saw his diving header agonisingly rebound off the post as he latched onto Fabio Rochemback's inviting cross.

Derby were then infuriated as an almost certain penalty was denied by Rob Styles when Emanuel Pogatetz missed timed his attempted header and the ball struck his arm. Styles pointed for a corner as Pogatetz protested to Derby players that the ball had struck him on the back of the head.

Jeremie Aliadiere had a late goal disallowed when he controlled a long pass before superbly rounding the onrushing Stephen Bywater and striking from a tight angle into the open net. Rob Styles declared a ruling of hand ball after his lines-man wrongly flagged when Aliadiere controlled the ball with his torso, close to but not actually with his arm or hand.

Giles Barnes then seemed poised to strike an equaliser for the home side as he controlled a pin-point cross on the edge of the box and lashed at the ball with a stinging volley. But back-from-injury BORO keeper Mark Schwarzer seemed comfortable as he frustrated Barnes and Derby, saving the shot with a confident catch in the centre of his goal.

BORO defended valiantly, however, to the end to deny Derby an equaliser and to record their second consecutive win after beating previously unbeaten Arsenal, at the Riverside.

One worrying note for BORO is that England winger Stewart Downing picked up a late knock and had to be replaced by youngster Adam Johnson, both of whom have been subject to rumours suggesting that they will be leaving BORO in January. Boss, Gareth Southgate and chief executive Keith Lamb have flatly refused to entertain any bids for either player and encourage teams not to waste their time with a fruitless effort.

Attendance: 32, 676
BORO Blog BORO Man of the Match: Tuncay