Mowbray relieved as Williams and Emnes help Boro bounce back

“It was important we got a win,” said Mowbray. “We had to bounce back but also we had to start winning games at home. It has been very frustrating for us in recent weeks. We made it hard work for ourselves. We played well, got the goals and looked comfortable for 70 minutes then shot ourselves in the foot, stayed deep and invited pressure.

“It was a tense final 20 minutes and I think Derby hit the woodwork four times and Jason Steele had to make a few very good saves. So it wasn’t a great performance but we’ll take the win. We played far better as a team against both Ipswich and Leicester but only got one point in those games.”

Derby manager Nigel Clough praised record-breaking teenager Mason Bennett for a “mature” debut. Striker Bennett was handed a starting role for the Rams at the tender age of 15 years and 99 days, to become his club’s youngest first-team player.

He would also have taken the record for youngest scorer in Football League history had he succeeded with either of two decent chances, the second of which saw him rattle the crossbar. The England Under-16 international was prevented from making his debut against Reading in midweek because he had school the next day but, despite going down to goals from Rhys Williams and Marvin Emnes, Clough was full of positives.

Williams struck with a close-range finish on the stroke of half-time with Emnes sealing victory when he headed home seven minutes after the break.

Middlesbrough: Steele, McMahon (Kink 80), Rhys Williams, McManus, Hoyte, Zemmama (Ogbeche 67), Bailey, Arca, Bennett, Emnes (Martin 75), McDonald. Unused substitutes: Nimely, Haroun.

Derby: Fielding, Croft, O’Brien, Shackell (Kilbane 57), Roberts, Ben Davies, Bryson, Hendrick, Ward, Robinson (Maguire 64), Bennett (Cywka 78). Unused substitutes: Legzdins, Doyle.

Referee: C Boyeson (E Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Jason Steele.