How Wayne Rooney and Derby County exploited Middlesbrough weakness and Dael Fry absence

The Rams claimed a 2-1 victory at Pride Park after first-half goals from strikers Lee Gregory and Colin-Kazim-Richards.

Rooney opted to deploy a 4-4-2 formation while telling centre-backs Andre Wisdom and Matt Clarke to play direct passes forward.

The tactic paid off as Gregory and Kazim-Richards caused constant problems for Boro’s defenders in the first half.

It didn’t help that Neil Warnock’s side were without first-choice centre-back Dael Fry due to a calf injury, while winger Yannick Bolasie was also ruled out with a hamstring issue he suffered in training.

“We felt it was better to go with two strikers and go direct,” said Rooney after the match. “They want you to play into midfield where they use the man for man system very well and then try and break on you.

"We didn't know Fry was missing until before the game. Him or Bolasie.

"Middlesbrough want you to play balls in the middle of the pitch. With the man to man system we felt we could get Wisdom and Clarke walking to the halfway line with the ball if we kept our midfielders away and then we can go direct with diagonal balls into Colin and Lee, then have our midfielders around it for second balls in their final third.

"It's nothing to do with players missing, it's the way we thought it was best to set up against Middlesbrough."

Derby’s first goal came from a corner when a group of their players gathered at the back post before separating in the penalty area.

Full-back Lee Buchanan headed the ball back across goal for Gregory convert, and Rooney says it’s a move his coaching staff, which includes former Boro goalkeeper Shay Given, had been working on.

"We had a bit more time on the training pitch and that was something we worked on," said Rooney.

"It's always pleasing when a set piece comes off. Shay Given showed me it and I told them to do it. We worked on it and thankfully it worked.”

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