Leroy Lita scored a goal which what could resonate at both ends of the table as he rescued a point for Middlesbrough with a last-minute equaliser against Derby at Pride Park.
Substitute Lita's glancing header from Barry Robson's free-kick kept Boro on the coat-tails of the teams in the play-off places and left the Rams precariously perched just above the relegation zone. The Teessiders had been reduced to 10 men shortly b
efore when Rhys Williams was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Dean Leacock.
Boro took the lead when Andrew Taylor's cross was only headed to the edge of the area by Nicky Hunt and Robson's rocket of a volley flew in. It was Boro's first away goal in 313 minutes of league football.
Against the run of play Derby equalised through Chris Porter.
Derby went ahead when Boro failed to clear their lines and Michael Tonge crashed in a
20-yard volley.
Luke O'Neil sent a volley just wide and Williams then saw red before Lita got a touch to Robson's inswinging cross to earn a point.
Derby County: David Martin, Hunt (Leacock 76), Anderson, Barker, McEveley, Tonge, Green, Savage (Porter 63), Pearson, Hulse, Sunu (Dave Martin 86). Unused substitutes: Deeney, Buxton, Pringle, Moxey.
Middlesbrough: Coyne, Taylor, McManus, Wheater, Naughton (Hoyte 69), Robson, Rhys Williams, O'Neil, Arca (Miller 82), Killen (Lita 73), McDonald. Unused substitutes: Jones, Riggott, Emnes, Grounds.
Referee: David Phillips (West Sussex).
