Tuncay Sanli's 32nd-minute strike was enough to virtually end Boro's relegation fears and it was just as well with Chelsea and Manchester United looming on their Barclays Premier League agenda.

However, having already taken four points off Arsenal this season and pushed Liverpool close at Anfield, Southgate insists Boro have no reason to feel daunted by their two big tests.

"What we've got now are two games that people will look at and think we won't take much from," he said.

"But we've been good in those games in the past so there's no reason why, having gone to
Arsenal and got a point, and having scored two at Anfield, we should go into any game thinking we won't get something from it.

"That has to be our attitude going to Chelsea and with Manchester United due to come here.

"We're back up to 12th and we want to be there at the end of the season if we possibly can be. That's our mentality for the last seven games."

Boro dominated proceedings against their opponents, but with a second-half blizzard swirling the game was never going to be a classic, and was described by Southgate as an "instantly forgettable" afternoon.

He would have had more reason to remember the match if his side had been embarrassed by a late lapse which almost let in Robert Earnshaw, the Rams striker heading a simple chance wide five minutes from time.

It was Derby's only real opportunity, although they finished the better side and manager Paul Jewell said: "It's the story of our season.

"We did really well against Manchester United and tried to take it into this game, but we just can't put two performances together.

"We had that golden opportunity right at the end and that's the difference.

"Teams at the top kill you in a situation like that. But we haven't scored enough and if you let in too many as well it is a recipe for relegation."

Boro had started brightly with Emanuel Pogatetz and David Wheater both going close and Jeremie Aliadiere was almost played in by Tuncay in the 20th minute as the home side continued to press.

Tuncay lit up a poor game in the 32nd minute when he picked up George Boateng's cross from the left, drifted across two Derby defenders and drilled home his sixth League goal of the season from the edge of the box.

Aliadiere had a fine chance seconds after the restart when he found space in the Derby penalty area only for his shot on the turn to be parried well by goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

The Frenchman also headed Gary O'Neil's free-kick inches wide, O'Neil had a goal-bound effort blocked by Darren Moore, and Boateng was only denied by a superb diving save from Carroll.

But the Rams regrouped and finished strongly, Andy Todd hooking the ball back across the six-yard box where Earnshaw, with a free header and the goal at his mercy, somehow contrived to head wide.

Jewell was left to rue more injury news with Carroll sustaining a groin strain which could rule him out of next week's game with Fulham.

Mile Sterjovski is out of Australia's midweek trip to China with the a similar injury.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young (Shawky 65), Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor, O'Neil, Cattermole, Boateng, Downing, Aliadiere (Alves 86), Sanli (Johnson 86). Unused substitutes: Turnbull, Grounds.

Derby County: Carroll, Todd, Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Sterjovski (Villa 39), Savage (Ghaly 62), Jones (Pearson 62), Lewis, Earnshaw, Miller. Unused substitutes: Price, Robert.

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).