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Harry Wilson has scored 10 goals this season

Promotions rivals Derby County and Middlesbrough had to settle for a point each in a game of missed opportunities at Pride Park.

Harry Wilson gave the Rams the ideal start to 2019, putting them ahead with a fiercely stuck low shot from the edge of the area inside two minutes.

Jordan Hugill levelled early in the second half, flashing a header past goalkeeper Scott Carson after meeting a delightfully weighted cross from George Friend.

Danny Batth should have put Boro in front moment later, only for Carson to foil the defender from point-blank range, while David Nugent was equally wasteful when he fired straight at Darren Randolph late on.

The stalemate leaves Boro fifth and the Rams sixth in the table and equal on points.

While Lampard named an unchanged side following Saturday's astonishing 4-3 comeback win at Norwich, the visitors were forced into a late reshuffle in defence as Batth replaced Aden Flint after he pulled up injured in the warm up.

Derby were quick to breach the Championship's best defence, with Liverpool loanee Wilson meeting a finely threaded pass from Jack Marriott before lashing home his 10th goal of the season.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested for what remained of the opening 45 minutes, although Derby's defence were made to scramble to block efforts from Hugill and Lewis Wing.

The first-half ended with a heavy late challenge from George Saville on Jack Marriott that saw the Boro midfielder shown a yellow card and left the Rams forward writhing in pain on the floor, which promoted both sets of players to angrily come together.

Wilson was an early second-half casualty, having to come off because of an injury to his left leg before Boro hit-back through Hugill.

The visitors, who were looking to avoid a fifth defeat in eight matches in all competitions, came close when Batth ghosted into the box for their best chance to win the game.

But just as the defender made it easy for Carson with his poorly directed header, Rams substitute and former Boro striker Nugent failed to test Randolph after racing onto a neatly squared pass from Andre Wisdom with four minutes remaining.

Derby manager Frank Lampard said George Saville was lucky not to be sent off: "It felt like a red card to me at the time and it was a dangerous tackle so I think they slightly got away with that one.

"We played really well for the first portion of the game. It was a great team goal and we slightly let them off the hook after that.

"We came off it, we got a bit sloppy with our passing first half and gave Middlesbrough a feeling they were in the game.

"We were looking after the ball so well but we came off that and they got their equaliser. Small details can be the difference so it's a big lesson for the players on that one."

Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis: "We were disappointed to lose Aden just before kick-off, that was a massive blow, and I think we started like it.

"We were very much on the back foot at the back. They got the goal after two minutes but the response of the players was fabulous and I think we took control then for long periods and Danny Batth's chance was the best of the game and he should score.

"The players have worked tremendously hard, especially after such an early setback.

"To give them a leg-up you think 'blimey, this is going to be a long afternoon' but they showed great character and the midfielders swarmed all over Derby at times."