When you’re hot, you’re hot, so they say. Last night’s performance was more a case of being like a Gregg's sausage roll; lukewarm but still leaving you satisfied and doing a job.

In actual fact, the night was freezing cold and one where you wish you’d put an extra layer on, but anyway, back to the football.

Fresh from getting three points, inserting the final nail in Owen Coyle’s coffin and debuting a new song (which can’t be explained on this family friendly site) at the DW Stadium, the Rams showed just one change from the side that beat the Latics.

Ward, somewhat surprisingly getting over his, ‘two week’ injury in a little over seven days, replaced Russell, who one can imagine, would have relished the tropical conditions compared to those of his native dwellings.

There was still, and quite rightly, no room for Michael Keane, with an improving back five again given then nod to carry on their current form.

The pre-match traffic had denied me the chance of chartering the book for the ‘how long will it take for Woodgate to get injured?’ sweepstake, but nevertheless, as the game kicked off, the vast majority of the 24,000 plus inside PRIDE PARK were confident of a home win.

This however is the Championship and after a strong first five, the visitors served notice that this wasn’t going to be a walkover. Far from it as Boro knocked the ball around with the type of conviction that the Rams have shown on their travels thus far in the campaign.

Chances were at a premium throughout the first fifteen minutes, with both defences looking organised and well drilled, with the visitors’ new gaffer Karanka seemingly stamping his considerable Real Madrid enhanced blueprint onto the side already.

Our best moments were all coming down the left hand side, with Forsyth, improving with each game, linking well with Bryson and Dawkins to see a cross deflect just over.

At the other end, Grant was barely tested before a mistake from Keogh saw a back-pass just about have the legs to get to its target.

After clearing into the West Stand, the Derby stopper was dumped onto his backside by the onrushing Main, in what was the sort of challenge seen on numerous occasions and normally resulting in the same equation; 'Striker smells blood + honestly goes for ball + misses ball and collides with keeper = gets booked.

With the play predominantly still coming down the Derby left/Boro right, a couple of corners, the second of which saw Buxton head over, were all that was on offer to excite the crowd as the game progressed into a cagey affair.

The classy link-up play which had defeated Wigan inside half an hour was sporadic at best, with Martin giving arguably his worst display of leading the line all season.

The game turned just after the half-hour, with Main just losing out on another 50/50, this time with Jake Buxton. With PRIDE PARK baying for blood, the ref didn’t need to be asked twice, rummaging through his Christmas Cards to produce a red one for the young striker, much to his and Karanka’s dismay. Surely this would turn the game in our favour?

From the next passage of play, Bryson tested Given in the Boro net for the first time with a daisy cutter. Hughes, quietly going about his business against an experienced opposition, then drove over before the referee once again didn’t cover himself in glory, denying Ward a clear free kick on the edge of the box.

With half time approaching, it seemed that an attacking half-time substitution was inevitable if a goal was to materialise.

Not so, as with the last attack of the half, Martin had the last laugh with his tenth of the season. More approach work down the left saw Bryson deliver a pinpoint cross for the big number 9 to steal ahead of his marker and poke home.

I’m sure his celebration involved flicking two fingers in my direction but I can’t be certain. One-nil and now the floodgates would open to send PRIDE PARK home happy.

Well, not quite but Jeff Hendrick did come on for John Eustace at the interval. The second half began not with the Alamo but rather a slow, cultured, pragmatic approach with plenty of possession.

Ward was doing his best General impression, forcing a succession of early corners but there was still little in the way of clear cut efforts. To their considerable credit, Boro looked well organised and gave every bit as good as what we were giving, which in truth, was not a lot.

Our passing seemed laboured and slow, with the width of the pitch not being utilised enough to exploit the man advantage. This said, another Ward corner should have resulted in a goal for Buxton, with his powerful header well cleared from off the goal-line. With the visitors’ attacks few and far between and with Buxton and Keogh pushed up inside enemy territory, a second goal would have killed it off.

The last rights were so nearly administered after superb play from Dawkins. The winger linked up with a still out-of-sorts Martin before brilliantly chipping to the far stick and Ward, whose volley was struck hard and true but straight at the legs of Given.

Within five minutes, the game was somehow level. Dawkins looked to be fouled on the wing but play on was signalled and Carayol set off to get the away fans singing.

First he nutmegged then evaded the considerable frame of Buxton before running the whole half to the edge of the box. His cut-back was poor but somehow, via the backtracking Buxton and Hughes, the ball fell to Whitehead who couldn’t miss.

Unbelievably, it was all square, much to the joy of the disabled visiting supporter who joined in the celebrations with the players in his wheelchair on the turf. A nice sight that warmed the heart, shame they had to equalise for it to be witnessed!

Still, at least Howard Foster wasn’t officiating or he’d have stopped the game seeing Boro ala Froch, being battered all game but landing one blow…

Now the mood around had changed, from virtual acknowledgement that the game was to peter out to now needing another goal.

Middlesbrough looked buoyed and the excellent Friend was providing a considerable foe to both Ward and Martin. Dawkins, injured from the ‘foul’ in the build up to the goal was replaced by Russell, whose sunglasses and Hawaiian shorts were a bit much.

Forsyth nearly struck the corner flag after good build up from the Scot but too many balls were directed straight down the middle, with Given using all of his experience (and the referee’s lack of timer, it seemed) to waste considerable and frustrating seconds at will. Bryson was replaced by Sammon in one final throw of McClaren’s dice, but still the game progressed in a similar vein.

With Ward incurring the wrath of those still in PRIDE PARK (I never have or will understand fans leaving when the game is so tight…surely a few minutes queuing would be more palatable after seeing a win?!) by shooting wide, it looked as if time was up.

That was of course, if we weren’t in such good form.

From another innocuous looking Hendrick lob into the box, Hughes won a header to flick on towards Sammon. With the Irishman ready to shoot, a combination of him and Friend saw a very friendly deflection to loop over the stranded Given.

With PRIDE PARK holding its breath and after what seemed to be a slow motion replay, Woodgate, forcing all bets to be off after completing ninety minutes, could only follow the ball into the net and Derby had nicked it.

To a man bar Grant, Sammon was acclaimed, showing his worth in the dressing room, if not in all quarters of the audience. Still, he had once again, albeit fortuitously, done his job and delivered a telling late blow.

In the celebration, I confess to missing the amount of added time indicated, and the scoreboard breaking did little to improve my Alex Ferguson-esque tapping of the watch.

Despite this and the fact that we insisted on trying to play the ball out from the edge of the area with the game nearly up, the full-time whistle allayed any nerves and we had won for the fourth time in succession.

I couldn’t help but think that this sort of win wouldn’t have materialised at the beginning of the season and that Lady Luck really does help you when you are towards the higher etches of the table.

As I clapped the players off, a number of thoughts filled my head; we hadn’t played well but had won the game, a sign of a good side so I’m told, the sending off ruined an intriguing game and how had the disabled Boro fan got onto the pitch?

We have and will play much better and not pick up three points. However, come May, we may well look back at this result and be very thankful to whatever part of Sammon’s anatomy that guided the ball in.

On the last official outing at PRIDE PARK (for those who insist) we may well have seen a pivotal result.

That’s we, referring to those who stayed for the duration, unlike my friend who texted me afterwards saying he’d missed the winner.

Oh I did chuckle.

Weston’s Player Ratings:

Lee Grant Two catches and picked the ball out of his net. The only notable things he did. Apart from try to keep warm - 6

Craig Forsyth Possibly his best display in a Rams shirt. Defended very well against the pace of Adomah, linked very well going forwards and seems to be growing in confidence. Have given him some stick previously so going to give her star man! Weston’s star man - 8

Andre Wisdom Impressive once again. Powerful, soild and caused problems going forwards. A little wasteful in the second half - 6

Jake Buxton Quite solid with little to do. Although was skinned for the equaliser - 6

Richard Keogh Solid but again little to do - 6

Craig Bryson Looked good in spells but injury forced him off late - 6

John Eustace Mopped up effectively, did all that was asked. Sacrificed to make way for the more attacking Hendrick - 6

Will Hughes A little wasteful but won a brilliant header to set up the winning goal - 6

Jamie Ward Some good deliveries from both flanks. Showed good quality but got a bit greedy and petulant again - 6

Simon Dawkins A little subdued but not alone. Getting fitter with each game. Should have been awarded free-kick in build up to equaliser - 6

Chris Martin Looked a poor imitation of the man who played at Wigan on Sunday. Didn’t link the play as he can and was out-muscled too frequently. But did score! - 6

Subs

Jeff Hendrick Still working his way back. Looked ok but needs time - 6

Johnny Russell Good glimpses but little time to make impact - 6

Connor Sammon The super-sub strikes again. In the right place at the right time! - 7

Match Stats — Derby / Boro:

Possession: 67% / 33%

Corners: 12 / 1

Shots (On Target): 17 (6) / 8 (4)

Fouls: 10 / 13

Yellow Cards: 0 / 2

Match Info:

Attendance: 24,641 (546 visiting supporters).

Referee: Andrew Madley

Derby County: Grant (GK), Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Eustace (Hendrick 45’), Hughes, Bryson (Sammon 79’), Dawkins (Russell 76’), Ward, Martin.

Subs not used: Legzdins (GK), Bennett, Cisse, Keane.

Goals: Chris Martin (45’), Conor Sammon (90’)

Derby County Polls