Team news

Martin to continue for Rams David Martin will continue in goal for Derby when Middlesbrough visit Pride Park.

The on-loan Liverpool keeper made his debut in the 2-1 defeat at Doncaster on Saturday in the absence of Stephen Bywater and Saul Deeney.

Bywater remains out with the back problem that forced him off during the early stages of the defeat at Reading five days ago while Deeney comes back into the reckoning after suspension and will replace academy product James Severn on the bench.

"David will continue in goal. What he did have to do on Saturday he did very well," said boss Nigel Clough. "Saul is back and will be on the bench but Stephen isn`t quite ready.

"He is having treatment and we are optimistic he will be available for Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend." Middlesbrough will be without Willo Flood and Jeremie Aliadiere.

The duo sustained injuries in the 1-0 defeat at Cardiff earlier this month, with Flood unlikely to play this season after suffering a small tear in his posterior cruciate knee ligament.

French forward Aliadiere suffered a broken toe in that clash and faces around six weeks on the sidelines.

But Scott McDonald will be hoping to retain his place in the starting line-up after recovering from a hernia operation in time to score his first goal for the club in Saturday's 2-2 draw with rivals Newcastle.

Derby vs Middlesbrough

Last modified 22:27 16/03/10

Lita leaves it late Leroy Lita scored what could prove to be a vital goal at both ends of the Coca-Cola Championship to rescue a point for Middlesbrough with a last-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Derby at Pride Park.

Substitute Lita's glancing header from Barry Robson's free-kick kept Boro on the coat-tails of the teams in the play-off places and left the Rams precariously perched just above the relegation zone.

The Teessiders had been reduced to 10 men shortly before when Rhys Williams was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Dean Leacock.

A first half of few chances was lit up by Robson's superb opening goal after 15 minutes.

Derby staged an unlikely turnaround to lead 2-1 thanks to goals from substitute Chris Porter and Michael Tonge, but Lita ensured the points were shared.

Robson's deflected free-kick from the right side of the area after four minutes had David Martin scrambling across his goal but the ball went wide of the far post.

At the other end, Danny Coyne pushed a driven shot from Rob Hulse behind for a corner after Tonge had seized on some sloppy midfield play by Boro.

Boro took the lead when Andrew Taylor's cross was only headed to the edge of the area by Nicky Hunt and Robson's rocket of a volley flew past Martin.

It was the Teessiders' first away goal in 313 minutes of league football since David Wheater scored in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich at the start of last month.

There were more chances at the beginning of the second half than the entire first 45 minutes, and they were all created by Boro.

Williams was denied by a brave block by Hunt before Scott McDonald and Chris Killen both narrowly missed with efforts from the edge of the box.

McDonald then curled a shot just wide of the far post from the left side of the area after 65 minutes.

So it was against the run of play when Derby equalised through Porter.

The former Motherwell man had only been introduced as a replacement for Robbie Savage four minutes previously when he headed in at the far post after Coyne could only push Jay McEveley's cross into his path.

Derby went ahead when Boro failed to clear their lines and Tonge crashed in a 20-yard volley that was equally as good as Robson's earlier effort.

Luke O'Neil sent a volley just wide as Boro searched for the equaliser.