Ratings - Middlesbrough v Derby County

Bettinelli: Not overly extended in first half, but made an important double save to deny Sibley and Lawrence just after the hour mark. Solid, kicked well. 7

Dijksteel: Overcame an edgy start to impose himself. Enjoying a consistent season. 7

Fry: Reliable, strong and positionally sound. 7

McNair: Took the chance to venture forward when the opportunity arose. Cool on the ball and dangerous with his set-pieces. 8

Bola: Not too much chance to make an offensive impact, but got through plenty of work. 6

Howson: Dominant force in the week he signed a new deal. Very important to the Boro cause. 7

Saville: Got through plenty of work and was a very strong performer. Pressed well. Went close in the second half, but fired off target. Neatly set up Boro's third. 8

Tavernier: Produced one or two signs although not everything came off. Good discipline for the team, allied to work rate and went close with a snapshot in second half and then missed a great chance. 6

Roberts: Handed his chance and conjured some nice moments before fading. Set up a good early chance for Assombalonga. 6

Watmore: A headed assist on his craved-for start and that will boost his confidence. Tired a little, which was to be expected. 6

Assombalonga: Could easily have had a hat-trick in the first-half. Clearly fancied it against Derby's backline. Strikers' goal. 7

Substitutes: Spence (Roberts 62); .Super run created a chance that Tavernier should have buried and went close near the end as Derby crumbled. Good impact. 7

Johnson (Watmore 62). Produced the cross which led to Boro's second, turned into his own net by Clarke. Then scored a fine curler. 7

Akpom (Assombalonga 72), 6.

Wing (Tavernier 86).

Not used: Stojanovic, Wood, Coulson, Wing, Folarin.

Derby County: Marshall; Byrne, Wisdom, Clarke, Buchanan (Holmes 70); Bird, Rooney; Lawrence (Whittaker 74), Knight, Jozwiak (Kazim-Richards 70); Waghorn (Sibley 45). Substitutes unused: Shinnie, Evans, Davies, Stretton.

Referee: P Bankes (Merseyside).