BORO FOUND A WAY
How often this season have Boro been criticised for finding a way to lose a game or throw away points. Here, they found a way to win. And how pivotal that was after the success at Stoke.
The midweek win stopped the rot but it’s momentum Boro now need in their bid to close the gap on the top six and the visit of a Derby team that hadn’t won in 11 games prior to their trip to Teesside presented Carrick’s side with a glorious chance to win back to back games for just the third time this season.
For long stages, it looked like Derby were going to be successful in their efforts to stifle and frustrate Boro, who looked to have ran out of ideas in the second half. But on the back of his starring show at Stoke, Finn Azaz was again the matchwinner. He’d gone closest in the first half when he hit the post in stoppage time then finally broke the deadlock with just 10 minutes to play. Azaz has played a major role in two hugely important wins. What a time for one of the stars of the season to rediscover his form and step up once more.
SURPRISE BOOST BEFORE INJURY CRISIS DEEPENS
As expected, Boro were without George Edmundson and Rav van den Berg after their injury blows this week, but there was a surprise boost with Jonny Howson returning to the bench after a two-and-a-half month lay-off.
Howson had been missing since the December draw with Plymouth and although he hasn’t played anywhere near as much as he have liked this season, his experience will be crucial in the run-in.
In the absence of the two centre-halves, Luke Ayling started alongside Fry and built on his solid second half showing at Stoke with an assured opening 45 minutes. But Boro’s defensive injury crisis deepened when Ayling was forced off on the hour mark. The captain looked to have suffered the injury making a tackle on Derby forward Jerry Yates. Despite Howson’s inclusion on the bench, Carrick instead called on Ryan Giles and moved Neto Borges across to centre-half.
Boro at least now have a full week before the trip to Swansea, where Carrick will hope at least one of his injured defenders will be fit to play.
FIRST HALF FRUSTRATION
Derby, unsurprisingly, set out to frustrate. Just after the quarter of an hour mark, Dael Fry came to a standstill with the ball at his feet, no man in yellow showing any intention of closing him down. Instead, Derby were happy to sit deep, challenging Boro – who had almost 75% of possession in the opening 20 minutes to pick the lock.
They very nearly did when Marcus Forss drifted inside unopposed and aimed a low drive for the bottom corner that was well kept out by Jacob Zetterstrom before the forward’s rebounded effort was blocked by a Derby defender. Morgan Whittaker then went close from the edge of the box when his curling effort flashed just wide.
Derby captain Ebou Adams was trying to do to Finn Azaz what Steve Baker did to Steve McManaman more than 25 years ago.
Come half-time, Derby had touched the ball just three times in the Boro box but John Eustace will have been satisfied, for his side had succeeded in keeping Boro out, though the hosts almost broke the deadlock in first half stoppage time when Azaz hit the outside of the post.
Carrick will have no doubt stressed the need for patience at the break.
PATIENCE PAYS OFF - IN THE END
The patience of the home fans was tested in the second half but Boro eventually got the breakthrough that, to be honest, didn’t like it was going to come.
The hope was that Boro would go through the gears after the break but they regressed and lacked ideas and urgency. Whittaker had two shots from distance but that was as good as it got for Boro, until Azaz was on the spot to fire home the winner 10 minutes from time.
Aidan Morris deserves huge credit for his part in the goal. It was the midfielder who pounced on a defensive mistake and crossed for Conway. The striker’s effort was blocked but landed at the feet of Azaz.
