Middlesbrough 4 Derby County 0

Croatian ace Alen Boksic led the way with a double strike as Middlesbrough stretched their unbeaten run under Terry Venables to a magnificent seven matches.

Boksic slotted home his eighth goal of the season with a 42nd-minute penalty after being impeded by Rams' skipper Daryl Powell.

Record signing Ugo Ehiogu grabbed his second goal since his £8m arrival from Aston Villa in October when he nodded in Christian Karembeu's right-wing cross on the hour.

Six minutes later Boksic headed against the bar from Dean Gordon's left-wing corner.

But the £2.5m former Lazio star put the seal on Boro's biggest win of the season when he broke clear on the end of Robbie Mustoe's pass nine minutes from time to beat keeper Mart Poom at his near post.

And Hamilton Ricard added a fourth with Boro's second penalty in injury time when the Colombian converted after Brian Deane had been brought down by Youl Mawene.