MIDDLESBROUGH picked up their first home victory since August with defeat over Derby County.

Rhys Williams and Marvin Emnes struck either side of half-time to give Boro the three points and provide an ideal tonic to suffering their first defeat of the season on the road at Nottingham Forest in midweek.

While Jason Steele seemed to have won over the hearts and minds of Boro supporters with a scintillating display of goalkeeping in the second half, keeping the hosts in the game.

A first half which offered very little in the way of chances was lifted a minute before the interval when Williams reacted quickly to stab Justin Hoyte's daisycutter shot over Frank Fielding in the Rams goal.

Before that, both teams enjoyed few chances in front of goal. Julio Arca saw a long-range drive comfortably collected by Fielding with two minutes on the clock, while Derby got their first effort away when 15-year-old Mason Bennett – the Rams' youngest ever player – headed Theo Robinson's centre wide after eight minutes.

Bennett looked lively, making incisive runs across Boro's back line, while Robinson's pace gave the hosts plenty to think about.

The Rams' best chance of the half came on 21 minutes when Robinson headed just wide of Jason Steele's post from Jason Shackell's passing header. That was a minute after Fielding had pounced upon a cross intended for Scott McDonald from Hoyte at the other end.

Boro had a fine chance to open the scoring on 33 minutes when Marvin Emnes volleyed goalwards, but Rams full-back Lee Croft managed to block the shot, while Fielding collected moments after.

As the half closed out, it was the hosts – who had not won at the Riverside Stadium since beating Birmingham City 3-1 in August – who enjoyed the lion's share of opportunities.

On 42 minutes, McDonald's long-range effort sent Fielding scrambling across goal, then Tony McMahon surged forward to drive a stinging shot off the palms of Fielding from Hoyte's pass.

But patient Boro were rewarded on 44 minutes when Williams scored his first goal since netting in the opening day of the season.

The Australian international almost added a second on 48 minutes when he fired Nicky Bailey's smart backheel over the bar from McMahon's corner.

But Derby could – and should – have been back in the game two minutes later but for a superb piece of goalkeeping from Steele.

Steele first of all denied Robinson's shot for a corner, and from the flag kick managed to get his body behind Craig Bryson's low shot from the edge of the box, then tipped over from Bennett's follow-up.

It proved to be a highly-important piece of work from the academy product, as, from the counter-attack, Middlesbrough extended their lead when Hoyte swept in a perfect cross for Emnes to power a header past Fielding.

Referee Carl Boyeson waved away Boro's claims for a penalty on 56 minutes when Gareth Roberts appeared to handle a Hoyte shot.

Just after the hour mark, a McDonald header was saved well by Fielding as Boro turned the screw.

But Derby had chances of their own, firstly when Bennett struck the crossbar after Steele had repelled Ben Davies' shot, and secondly when Jamie Ward hit the bar from distance and saw a late free-kick fly wide of Steele's post.

Steele had to be on his toes once again at the death when he excellently tipped Bailey's defensive header on to the bar, then again to deny Rams substitute Chris Maguire with a fine diving save as Boro held on for victory.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Steele; McMahon (Kink 81), McManus, Williams, Bennett; Hoyte, Bailey, Zemmama (Ogbeche 67), Arca; Emnes (Martin 76), McDonald. Subs: Nimely, Haroun.

DERBY COUNTY (4-4-2): Fielding; Croft, O'Brien, Shackell (Kilbane 57), Roberts; Davies, Hendrick, Bryson, Ward; Robinson (Maguire 64), Bennett (Cywka 79). Subs: Legzdins, Doyle.

Attendance: 17,407