Two goals from Adam Johnson condemned Derby County to a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough this evening.

The winger scored a goal in either half for Gareth Southgate's men to leave the Rams still searching for their first away victory of the campaign.

After the hard-fought 0-0 draw in the East Midlands derby at Leicester City on Saturday, Manager Nigel Clough made two changes to his starting line-up.

An injury to on-loan Swedish defender Fredrik Stoor ruled him out, to Paul Connolly slotted in at right back while Lee Croft dropped to the bench and Jay McEveley returned to the side after being on the bench at the weekend.

It meant Gary Teale switched to the right-hand side of midfield, and McEveley operated on the left while ex-Boro target Rob Hulse and Kris Commons lead the line with the available-again Paul Dickov on the substitutes bench.

Home boss Gareth Southgate opted to make just the one change to his side after their third straight defeat on home territory this season to Watford at the weekend, and that change saw ex-Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte come in for Tony McMahon at left-back.

On a cold evening on Teeside Middlesbrough got the game underway looking to end their recent disappointment at home and the Boro fans were very vocal in supporting their side in the early stages. The pocket of Derby fans tucked away in the far corner of the away enclosure were doing their best to be heard.

Derby survived an almighty scare in the first four minutes when Gary O'Nei had a shot from six yards blocked at the expense of a corner. The move began when Leroy Lita intelligently played Adam Johnson clear on goal and Stephen Bywater was out of his goal quickly to usher Johnson wide and allow numbers to get back, and after Johnson laid the ball to O'Neil at the back post of those to get back was Shaun Barker and he threw himself in the way of O'Neil's goalbound shot.

The early pressure came from the home side, and it was always going to have to be a case of being patient for the Rams in looking to exert their authority on the game.

There was more early frustration for the Rams when Kris Commons had to be replaced after just twelve minutes with a tight right hamstring, and he was replacing Paul Dickov.

The Scot made an instant impact, linking up well with Hulse to play a neat one-two and get a shot away from just inside the box that curled wide of Jones' far post. It was a promising sign of a partnership developing between the two.

By the twentieth minute, the Rams were struck by another injury. This time it was McEveley who was the unlucky player, he seemed to pick up a blow to his face after colliding with Lita inside the Derby half and that meant Lee Croft was introduced into the action. It was later revealed he had a suspected fracture of his cheekbone.

Things got even worse for Derby barely sixty seconds later when Barker was adjudged to have brought down Johnson inside the box and Boro's leading scorer dusted himself down to slot the penalty straight down the middle past Bywater to open the scoring.

Derby kept their composure despite three early setbacks and began to enjoy a spell of possession, but were almost made to pay for being caught on the break on twenty-six minutes as Lita burst towards goal but Barker got back well and slid in to make a fine block.

It was pretty clear the Riverside seemed to be on edge every time Derby came forwards, and Dickov was making things happen by coming deep for the ball allowing Hulse to get in behind and turn the Boro defenders.

The Rams weren't able to force an opportunity before the break and they went into the dressing room at the interval a goal behind.

Derby started positively in the second period and Moxey forced an early corner but Leacock headed wide.

The momentum was with Derby approaching the hour mark, but despite plenty of possession they were unable to find a way through a sea of red shirts back on the edge of their own area.

Dickov let fly from thirty yards two minutes before the hour with a stinging low drive, but Jones dived to his right to smother the ball.

But just as Derby were on top Boro struck another telling blow as Johnson cut inside from the right and let fly with a curling shot from just inside the box, giving Bywater no chance at all as the ball nestled into the far corner of the net.

Teale had a chance to reduce the deficit within two minutes but his volley from Connolly's cross was superbly blocked by the body of Wheater.

Bywater was called into action with twenty-five minutes remaining to make an alert stop at his near post from Lita's powerful drive to keep out the former Reading and Bristol City striker.

Leacock made a vital block on the line to deny Johnson on his hat-trick, although that would have been harsh on the Rams as Lita looked to have pushed Leacock in the build-up.

Dickov came inches away from opening his Derby account with twenty minutes to go but his curling effort was just off target.

Academy graduate Greg Mills came off the bench for his Derby debut in the final ten minutes, replacing Gary Teale on the left-hand side of midfield.

He came close to pulling a goal back with five minutes to go with a glancing header from Lee Croft's corner, but he could only hit the side netting.

Dickov curled a shot just over with a few minutes left as Derby ended strongly, but they couldn't notch a consolation goal for their efforts and Middlesbrough were able to celebrate their first success at the Riverside since 12 September.

Derby are back in action at Pride Park Stadium against QPR on Saturday, kick-off 5:30pm.

MIddlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St Ledger, Bennett, Williams, O'Neil, Johnson, Digard (Yeates 81), Lita, Aliadiere (Emnes 90)
Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Walker, Grounds, McMahon
Booked: Williams, Lita, Wheater
Goals: Johnson (22 - Penalty & 59)

Derby County: Bywater, Connolly, Barker, Leacock, Moxey, Teale (Mills 79), Livermore, Savage, McEveley (Croft 20), Commons (Dickov 12), Hulse
Not Used: Deeney, Hendrie, Buxton
Booked: Hulse, Connolly

Referee: Mr J Moss

Attendance: 17,459 (385 Derby County Supporters)