Derby County are on course to leapfrog Middlesbrough in the Championship table, having taken a 1-0 lead into half time of their match against Leeds United this evening.
The visitors suffered an early blow when Stephen Warnock picked up an injury inside five minutes and was forced off to be replaced by Gaetano Berardi.
Leeds almost took the lead following a quiet opening to the match when Souleymane Doukara found Mirko Antenucci with a through-ball, but the Italian striker fired his effort wide of the post.
The first clear opening didn't come until the 38th minute, when Liam Cooper did enough in defence to prevent Chris Martin from tapping Cyrus Christie's cross in.
The hosts broke the deadlock just three minutes later, however, as Alex Mowatt turned the ball into his own net after good work down the flank from Will Hughes.
It was almost 2-0 right on the stroke of half time as Richard Keogh connected with a Hughes free kick, only for Marco Silvestri to produce a fine save.
Jordon Ibe tested the keeper again from the resulting corner, but once more Silvestri was equal to it as Derby had to settle for just a one-goal lead at the interval.
Barney Corkhill
