Bent helps Derby battle back to beat Boro

Goals by Darren Bent and Luke Thomas helped Derby County come from behind to earn a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough in the Premier League Cup.

The visitors took the lead through Hayden Coulson's 12th-minute header.

But Derby struck back when Bent, on the comeback trail following injury, connected with Thomas’s cross on 27 minutes.

Shortly after going close Thomas struck the winner, on 58 minutes, when he swept Charles Vernam’s cutback in off the post.

The victory lifts the Rams three points above both Boro and Birmingham City and narrowly ahead of Nottingham Forest at the top of Group A on goal difference.

Derby report | Boro report

Next fixtures

Derby: 5 Dec v Everton (H) PL International Cup
Middlesbrough: 10 Dec v Norwich (A) PL2