Coutts Secures A Point

Derby County came from behind to earn themselves a point at the Riverside Stadium with Paul Coutts` late goal levelling the scores at 2-2. Theo Robinson gave The Rams the lead with a penalty in the firsthalf but they only held the lead for a couple of minutes as Middlesbrough equalised when Lukas Jutkiewicz tapped home from close range after Frank Fielding only parried a Grant Leadbitter freekick. Chances were rare in the second half and a Jutkiewicz header looked to have secured the points with nine minutes to go but after Andre Bikey missed a glorius chance for a third Coutts converted from ten yards to level the scores and Theo Robinson scuffed an effort wide in the final minutes as the game finished all square.

Theo Robinson and Nathan Tyson were recalled to the starting line-up by Nigel Clough following the victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday with Jamie Ward missing out with the hamstring injury he picked up in that game and Conor Sammon dropping to the bench. Tyson lined-up wide on the left with Will Hughes playing a more central role. Jake Buxton`s slip on six minutes allowed Grant Leadbitter to get a shot on goal but Frank Fielding saved easily and Robinson almost got on the end of a Tyson flick but Seb Hines got across well to block.

Nicky Bailey fired wide from twenty yards and Richard Keogh sliced a dangerous delivery over his own bar before Derby took the lead on sixteen minutes when Craig Bryson and Robinson exchanged passes and Andre Bikey brought the midfielder down in the area. Robinson stepped up to confidently fire the penalty beyond the reach of Jason Steele and into the corner of the net. The lead did not last for long and the home side were level three minutes later when Keogh gave away a freekick for a foul on Lukas Jutkiewicz and Fielding could only parry the resulting effort on goal and Jutkiewicz followed up to score from close range.

Jutkiewicz hooked another effort tamely at Fielding from a Justin Hoyte cross and Paul Coutts` freekick was blocked on the edge of the area but appeals for handball were waved away. Luke Williams volleyed wide after George Friend headed back across goal and Robinson had an effort blocked by the legs of Steele as both sides looked to take a lead into the break but the sides remained all square at the whistle.

Chances were much scarcer in the second period with neither side having a clear sight of goal despite some neat football from The Rams and Conor Sammon came on to replace Tyson just before the hour mark. Coutts` had a freekick deflect wide of the mark with twenty minutes to go. Merouanne Zemmama fired well wide of the mark on seventy-eight minutes but his cross three minutes later picked out Jutkiewicz and his looping header beat Fielding to give the lead with their first effort on target of the second half and Bikey should have tied up the points but he headed wide from close range from a Leadbitter freekick. The miss proved costly as Sammon pulled the ball back to Coutts and the midfielder took a touch before firing in the equaliser from ten yards. In the dieing minutes Craig Bryson`s cross found Robinson but he scuffed his effort wide of goal and the sides had to settle for a point each.

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