Taking everything into consideration, Chris Wilder will be more than satisfied with a 2-2 draw at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, his team twice coming from behind to earn a share of the spoils.
Although Boro have since dropped out of the playoff spots, the point kept things ticking over in the right direction as they look to last the pace in the race for the top six.
With only five points coming from four away games, the onus is on collecting wins at the Riverside Stadium, and Boro have recorded five successive victories in the North-East.
Only one of those victories – the 2-0 success against Nottingham Forest – was particularly convincing, but Wilder will be quietly delighted about the character that his players keep showing on a weekly basis.
As far as Wayne Rooney is concerned, it has been impossible for the Derby boss to play down the ongoing exploits of his squad as they continue to battle against the odds.
Derby have effectively turned a corner where people now expect them to overtake struggling Reading in the coming weeks, but that is perhaps the biggest obstacle that Rooney and his players face going forward.
Hope has quickly turned to expectation, regardless of their precarious position off the pitch, and Rooney will be aware of that as they bid to avoid a third successive defeat on the road
Despite being deducted 21 points this season, the Rams are now within four points of moving outside of the bottom three having defeated Hull City by a 3-1 scoreline in midweek.
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All three strikes came in the first 47 minutes, and it was a bounce-back result which was necessary after going three fixtures without success.
Derby have effectively turned a corner where people now expect them to overtake struggling Reading in the coming weeks, but that is perhaps the biggest obstacle that Rooney and his players face going forward.
Hope has quickly turned to expectation, regardless of their precarious position off the pitch, and Rooney will be aware of that as they bid to avoid a third successive defeat on the road
