Derby County were held to a 2-2 draw by playoff chasing Middlesbrough at Pride Park this evening, with a late goal breaking the Rams' hearts.

Barry Robson's well-executed volley put Middlesbrough ahead early on at Pride Park and it took until the 67th minute for Derby to draw level when substitute Chris Porter headed home from close range.

Tonge put Derby ahead with 16 minutes to go, crashing home from long range with the aid of a deflection.

The visitors ended the game with ten men when Rhys Williams was sent off for a second bookable offence late on, and with seconds remaining Leroy Lita headed them level to earn a share of the spoils.

Russell Anderson was handed his first Derby County start at the heart of the defence in place of Jake Buxton while there was a recall for Gilles Sunu in place of Steven Davies who missed out entirely with a tight hamstring.

Middlesbrough fired in the first shot of the game after 4 minutes but Barry Robson's free-kick from long range was deflected wide for a corner.

Rob Hulse - a transfer target for Middlesbrough earlier in the season under previous manager Gareth Southgate - drew a fine save from Danny Coyne at his near post on 10 minutes with a powerful drive as Derby got their first effort in on goal.

The visitors drew first blood on the 15 minute mark when a loose ball was crashed past the despairing dive of Martin in the Derby goal by in-form midfielder Barry Robson who took his tally to 5 goals in 10 games since his move from Celtic in January.

Nigel Clough's side huffed and puffed for an equaliser but couldn't break the Middlesbrough door down, despite delivering some inviting balls into the box in the closing stages of the half.

Shaun Barker was called upon to make a brave block to keep out Williams' volley early in the second half inside the box as Middlesbrough started the second half strongly looking to edge further ahead.

Boro had the ball in the back of the net just before the hour through another ex-Celtic player, Scott McDonald, but his effort was ruled out for offside when following up from Killen's shot which was palmed out by Martin.

Derby's first effort of the second half came on the hour when a deflected Paul Green shot whistled just wide.

The Rams' attacking options were enhanced soon afterwards when Chris Porter replaced skipper Robbie Savage, and he had an immediate impact by running at the Boro defence but Coyne managed to dive at the feet of the frontman and claim the ball.

Derby's persistence finally paid off and it was Porter who made the breakthrough when Coyne failed to deal with a McEveley cross and the striker took his season's tally to 3 with a header from a few yards out to haul the Rams onto level terms.

The Rams could have turned the game completely on its head 90 seconds later but Nicky Hunt's low cross-shot hit the side netting with Middlesbrough's back-line looking shaky.

Pearson exploited gaps in the visiting defence on 70 minutes to pull the ball back to Green but his low shot was blocked.

The Rams took the lead for the first time with 15 minutes to go when Middlesbrough couldn't deal with another ball pumped into the box and with the aid of a deflection Michael Tonge's long-range shot found its way past Coyne.

Dean Leacock came off the bench for Nicky Hunt before proceedings could get underway again, the first time in 2010 the defender has been seen in first-team action.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men late on, but that mattered little when with seconds to go Leroy Lita glanced home Robson's free-kick to draw Boro level.

A late chance for Rob Hulse came and went when he glanced Pearson's cross just wide, meaning Derby had to be content with a point.