‘I didn’t think we were a threat’ rues Middlesbrough’s Neil Warnock

Warnock’s team are winless in five games and have scored only twice during that run which leaves them six points outside the top six.

Warnock said: “It’s disappointing result-wise but once again I didn’t think we were a threat.

“Since I’ve been here, well in fact for the last few years really, there’s not been enough threat up front.

“I thought last week if we’d had (Ivan) Toney we’d have won the game and I think if we’d had (Colin) Kazim-Richards today we would have won the game.

“I don’t think there’s much wrong that needs putting right but at the moment things aren’t dropping for us either.”

Derby carried a bigger threat and Lee Gregory marked his home debut with a goal in the 15th minute as Boro were caught cold at a corner.

Lee Buchanan was unmarked at the back post to knock the ball across and Gregory ran in to head home.

The on-loan Stoke striker was involved again in the move for Derby’s second in the 32nd minute when Colin Kazim-Richards smashed his lay-off past Marcus Bettinelli from 25 yards.

But Kazim-Richards was caught in possession six minutes later by Marc Bola who surged into the area and Neeskens Kebano drove the loose ball past David Marshall.

Derby: Marshall, Byrne, Wisdom, Clarke, Buchanan, Waghorn, Knight, Shinnie, Jozwiak (Mengi 86), Kazim-Richards, Gregory (Bird 74). Unused substitutes: Roberts, Baningime, Forsyth, Sibley, Roos, McDonald, Watson.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli, Fisher, Dijksteel, McNair, Bola, Morsy (Ashley Fletcher 82), Howson, Kebano (Johnson 82), Saville (Hall 59), Watmore (Mendez-Laing 65), Assombalonga (Akpom 59). Unused substitutes: Archer, Spence, Coulson.

Referee: M Donohue (Lancashire).

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.