Derby County's Academy side sits proudly on top of the table after a five-game unbeaten run.

The scholars made it three wins in succession last weekend with a hard-earned 2-1 win away to Nottingham Forest.

"We are very pleased with the boys overall so far this season," head of Academy coaching David Lowe told www.dcfc.co.uk.

"The only result that really upset us was Everton (a 6-0 home defeat) but since then we have remained unbeaten.

"It is not all about results, it is about performances and the lads progressing, and they are coming along well."

Now the Rams host to Middlesbrough tomorrow looking to add to their run.

Lowe added: "Middlesbrough have a big reputation as a good Academy and rightly so, with the players that have come through to their first-team.

"It will be a tough game, even though their position in the table suggests they have been struggling a bit this season, and we know we will have to be at our best."

Of the Forest game, Lowe said: "We deserved to be one-down at half-time as Forest were the better team in the first period, but in the secnod half we got about the game a bit better and there was more purpose to our play.

"We got back in the game with an Aaron Dillon goal, and then he was fouled for the penalty which Greg Mills stuck home.

"To be fair, we did get stronger as the game went on."