Derby County 0, Middlesbrough 1 - MIDDLESBROUGH reached manager Steve McClaren's 42-point safety target as the former Derby coach nudged his old club nearer the Premiership precipice.

Boro all but banished their lingering relegation fears thanks to a superb opportunist strike from Robbie Mustoe in the 12th minute of Monday's Pride Park clash.

Mustoe, Boro's longest-serving player after almost 12 years with the club, scored his second goal of the season - his first was in the 5-1 demolition of Derby at the Riverside in November.

Second-bottom Derby are now deeper in trouble, and their daunting five-match run-in - including trips to Southampton, Liverpool and Sunderland as well as visits from Newcastle and Leeds - offers no comfort.

Rams manager John Gregory demonstrated his disgust with his side's lack of attacking punch in the first half when he hauled off former Boro striker Fabrizio Ravanelli and Belgian Branko Strupar at the interval in favour of Malcolm Christie and Giorgi Kinkladze.

Boro had been forced to reckon without leading scorer Alen Boksic, who had struck four goals in their previous three meetings with the Rams, after he was ruled out with a knock sustained in Saturday's 1-1 home draw against Tottenham.

But skipper Paul Ince threw off a lingering virus to return in midfield, where Jonathan Greening switched to the left to facilitate Noel Whelan's move into attack.

Boro right-back Robbie Stockdale, pressing his claims to be welcomed into the international fold by Scotland, earned an early ticking-off from referee Paul Durkin for a hefty challenge which left Lee Morris hobbling.

But Boro stunned the home side when Mustoe scored with the first shot of the match.

The midfielder charged down Chris Riggott's attempted clearance on the edge of the 18-yard box and, as the ball spun up, connected with a brilliant right-foot volley which comprehensively beat keeper Andy Oakes to his left.

Oakes needed treatment minutes later when he felt the full force of a 50-50 challenge with Whelan deep inside his own box.

The keeper lay motionless for a moment after the pair had collided in a race for Benito Carbone's dangerous through-ball.

Carbone, who scored once in 13 appearances for Derby during a three-month loan from Bradford this season, quickly tested Oakes' senses with a near-post cross intended for Whelan, but the keeper caught it comfortably.

Derby's desperation was evident on the half-hour mark when former Newcastle defender Warren Barton was shown the yellow card for a lunge on Greening.

The Rams had to wait until the 39th minute for their first genuine effort at goal when another ex-Magpie, midfielder Robert Lee, found a gaping hole in the Boro defence to force a fine parry from the exposed Mark Crossley.

The keeper was also alive to the situation when he claimed the ball after Ravanelli had contrived a tame back-header on the end of Paul Boertien's right-wing corner.

But Derby had a further scare close to half-time when Oakes raced from his goal to clear but only succeeded in locating Boro left-back Franck Queudrue, who was narrowly off target as he attempted to find the open net from long range.

Christie, so often a thorn in Boro's side in the past, had been in the action only ten minutes when he chased a long punt from Riggott and met Crossley head-on.

It was another nasty collision and both players required attention before continuing.

But Gregory's half-time shake-up gave Derby greater urgency and penetration, with Morris moving up from midfield to form a three-man frontline alongside Christie and Kinkladze.

Boro centre-back Ugo Ehiogu made a great saving tackle to deny Lee a shooting chance as he homed in on goal.

But at the other end, Luciano Zavagno had to perform similar heroics for Derby to head out Greening's near-post cross.

Boro could have put the game beyond any doubt five minutes from the end when Whelan fired over from a good position after being set up by Carbone.

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