Rampant Boro thrash Derby

The day belonged to Boro's 19-year-old Marinelli

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Middlesbrough 5-1 Derby

Middlesbrough produced a magnificent second-half performance to thrash fellow Premiership strugglers Derby.

Fabrizio Ravanelli's return to the Riverside was not a happy one as the Rams buckled under constant Boro pressure.

Carlos Marinelli's double stole the show, while Szilard Nemeth, Alen Boksic and Robbie Mustoe scored Boro's other three.

Ravanelli brought some respectability to the scoreline with a consolation goal late on, but the day belonged to Steve McClaren's side and 19-year-old Marinelli.

Ravanelli was back at the Riverside for the first time since he left in September 1997 - and was roundly booed by the home fans.

  Key moments

49 mins: Nemeth opens the scoring for Boro

57 mins: Marinelli volleys home beautifully

61 mins: Boksic chips in third

73 mins: Mustoe adds to Derby misery with fourth

82 mins: Marinelli nets his second of the day

89 mins: Ravanelli scores a late consolation

The controversial Italian striker was involved in one of Derby's first attacks, combining well with compatriot Benito Carbone to put the Boro defence under pressure.

But it was Boro's Nemeth who almost grabbed an opener with only 15 seconds on the clock.

The Slovakian international struck a fierce shot which Derby keeper Mart Poom expertly tipped over for a corner.

In the second half we responded and it was an absolutely tremendous display

Boro boss Steve McClaren

Nemeth proved a constant threat to the Derby defence, who remained on the back foot for most of the first half.

Boro were driven on by the impressive Paul Ince, who controlled matters in midfield alongside Marinelli.

Ince went close to opening Boro's account and Jonathan Greening should have broken the deadlock on the half-hour mark.

But the England Under 21 international failed to convert from 15 yards out after Ince's deflected shot landed at his feet.

Ravanelli: From red face to red shirt

Having laid seige to the Derby goal in the first half, Boro came out after the interval with all guns blazing.

And Nemeth gave the home side a deserved lead within four minutes of the restart.

Poom could only parry Marinelli's cross from the right and Nemeth fired the rebound into the unguarded net to score his first Premiership goal.

With Boro clearly in the ascendancy, McClaren's side doubled their advantage seven minutes later.

Argentine midfielder Marinelli, so influential throughout, was rewarded for his efforts with a stunning volley that sent the Riverside crowd wild with delight.

Boksic killed off any chance of a Derby comeback with Boro's third on 61 minutes, coolly chipping over Poom.

Any more performances like that and we're going to make life very difficult for ourselves

Derby boss Colin Todd

The Derby keeper's miserable afternoon was compounded when he could do nothing to stop Mustoe's rasping shot going in off the post.

Marinelli scored a second to cap an impressive display, after which Ravanelli netted a late consolation goal from a beautifully-taken free kick.

The result pushes Boro up to 13th in the Premiership table but leaves Colin Todd's Derby firmly rooted to the bottom of the table by virtue of goals conceded.

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Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Greening, Mustoe, Ince, Marinelli, Boksic, Nemeth. Subs: Deane, Windass, Crossley, Cooper, Johnston.

Derby: Poom, Powell, Riggott, Mawene, Higginbotham, Carbone, Burley, Ducrocq, Zavagno, Burton, Ravanelli. Subs: Christie, Elliott, Feuer, Murray, Boertien.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).