Adam Johnson handed manager Gareth Southgate a stay of execution as Middlesbrough's bout of home sickness came to an end.

The England Under-21 international converted a 22nd-minute penalty he had won and then doubled his side's advantage with a superb solo effort - his eighth of the season - 14 minutes after the break to end a run of four successive home defeats.

Johnson's opener was his first at the Riverside Stadium this season and the first his side had managed in 297 minutes at home after successive defeats to West Brom, Leicester and Watford.

A continuation of that run tonight might have proved fatal to Southgate with speculation mounting that chairman Steve Gibson is losing patience.

Gibson would nevertheless have been dismayed to see the banks of empty seats this evening with just 17,459 watching, the lowest ever at the stadium for a league game.

Boro started brightly and might have gone ahead with just four minutes gone when striker Leroy Lita picked out Johnson in space on the left.

The winger surged into the box and, after beating advancing goalkeeper Stephen Bywater to the ball, picked out Gary O'Neil at the far post, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Derby striker Kris Commons limped off to be replaced by Paul Dickov with only 12 minutes gone, and the newcomer went close within seconds, running onto Rob Hulse's lay-off before shooting wide of Brad Jones' left post.

Lita would have been in on goal had he been able to collect full-back Joe Bennett's intelligent pass, but it was Johnson who fashioned the opening and then made the breakthrough with 22 minutes gone.

His pace as he cut inside from the left was too much for central defender Shaun Barker, who tripped him to concede a penalty, and the winger made no mistake from the spot.

Jeremie Aliadiere shot just wide after turning smartly on Sean St Ledger's 29th-minute pass and the visitors were relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

Jones had to make his first save of the game with 58 minutes gone when Dickov took aim from distance, but Johnson effectively ended the game as a contest within seconds.

Bennett picked him out on the left and he carved his way past four white shirts before curling a delightful shot beyond Bywater's despairing dive.

Gary Teale might have pulled one back for Derby within a minute had David Wheater not got in a vital block, but Johnson would have completed a hat-trick with 22 minutes remaining had Dean Leacock not blocked his goal-bound effort.

Teams:

Middlesbrough Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger, Bennett, O'Neil, Williams, Digard (Yeates 81), Johnson, Lita, Aliadiere (Emnes 89).

Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Walker, Grounds, McMahon.

Booked: Williams, Lita, Wheater.

Goals: Johnson 22 pen, 59.

Derby Bywater, Connolly, Barker, Leacock, Moxey, Teale (Mills 78), Livermore, Savage, McEveley (Croft 20), Hulse, Commons (Dickov 11).

Subs Not Used: Deeney, Buxton, Hendrie.

Booked: Hulse, Connolly.

Att: 17,459

Ref: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).