Middlesbrough edged nearer safety thanks to two goals from Alen Boksic, one from the penalty spot.

Ugo Ehiogu and Hamilton Ricard (penalty) were also on target as Derby fell apart in this battle of the Premiership strugglers.

Middlesbrough, unbeaten in six matches since Terry Venables arrived as head coach, made a bright start at the Riverside.

Striker Ricard scampered away from Mawene and delivered a cross into the box after seven minutes.

Alen Boksic got on the end of it but he sent his shot wide of keeper Mart Poom's post.

Ricard, who scored the winner in the FA Cup victory against Bradford on Monday, was finding plenty of space on the right in the early stages.

He found himself in the clear in the 12th minute but his weak delivery was easily taken by Poom.

Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Okon needed treatment after clashing with Rory Delap after trying to block his run.

Okon was able to resume after a couple of minutes as the home side tried to break the deadlock.

With both teams having good defensive records it was hardly surprising the game was very tight in the opening 30 minutes.

Danny Higginbotham tried his luck for Derby from 35 yards but his effort found the crowd.

Derby went into the match having kept clean sheets in eight of their last 11 Premiership games and were again proving difficult to break down.

The Middlesbrough supporters were becoming increasingly frustrated as half-time approached.

The home side were having plenty of possession but Boksic was getting little change from 20-year-old defender Chris Riggott.

With Craig Burley beginning to pull the strings in midfield, Derby were slowly finding their rhythm.

Middlesbrough took the lead however in controversial circumstances three minutes before the break.

Mawene was pulled up by referee Rob Styles for apparently throwing an elbow at Karembeu.

Styles awarded a penalty and Boksic ignored the protests from the Derby camp to score from the spot.

HT Middlesbrough 1 Derby 0

Derby surged forward at the start of the second half in an effort to get the equaliser.

Malcolm Christie found space on the edge of the of the box but keeper Mark Schwarzer got down quickly to smother his shot.

The 20-year-old striker limped off after 56 minutes and was replaced by Belgian star Branko Strupar.

Middlesbrough extended their lead on the hour with a superbly crafted goal.

Paul Ince floated a free-kick to Karembeu out on the right. He took the ball on the chest before delivering it into the centre.

Central defender Ugo Ehiogu raced forward to power a header beyond Poom to put Middlesbrough 2-0 ahead.

Boksic came within whisker of getting his second of the game in the 66th minute when his header came back off the bar following a corner from sub Dean Gordon.

Boksic added his second in the 81st minute when he got away from Riggott and fired a low shot beyond Poom.

Ricard scored a fourth on the stroke of full time when he tucked away a penalty after Mawene's challenge on sub Brian Deane.

Teams:

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Fleming, Vickers, Festa, Karembeu, Ehiogu, Ince, O'Neill (Gordon 61), Okon (Mustoe 75), Boksic (Deane 82), Ricard.

Subs Not Used: Stamp, Crossley.

Goals: Boksic 43 pen, Ehiogu 60, Boksic 81, Ricard 90 pen.

Derby: Poom, Powell, Carbonari, Mawene, Higginbotham (Morris 75), Delap, Eranio (Kinkladze 62), Burley, Riggott, Burton, Christie (Strupar 56).

Subs Not Used: Bragstad, Oakes.

Booked: Burley, Riggott, Carbonari, Mawene.

Att: 29,041

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).