Chapter 23: Middlesbrough vs Derby county
The Riverside Stadium buzzed with anticipation as the teams lined up on the pitch. Middlesbrough's starting XI exuded confidence, with Aynsley Pears in goal and a back three of Jonathan Howson, Paddy McNair, and Dael Fry. Djed Spence and Hayden Coulson hugged the flanks, while Lewis Wing and George Saville formed the midfield engine. Ahead of them, Marcus Tavernier and Patrick Roberts supported Ashley Fletcher, the lone striker, in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Derby County, under the watchful eye of player-coach Wayne Rooney, countered with a 4-2-3-1 setup. The backline consisted of Nathan Byrne, Curtis Davies, Matthew Clarke, and Lee Buchanan, shielding Ben Hamer in goal. In midfield, Max Bird and Jason Knight provided the defensive cover, while David, playing on the right wing, joined Duane Holmes and Martyn Waghorn in attack, with Tom Lawrence leading the line.
From the opening whistle, the match was slow. Both teams probed cautiously, neither willing to take risks. The commentators filled the void with analysis, but the fans' impatience grew.
David roamed the right flank, his touches sparking brief moments of excitement. His footwork was as mesmerizing as ever, but Middlesbrough's disciplined defense kept him from causing any real damage.
The breakthrough came in the 16th minute. Marcus Tavernier collected the ball near midfield and turned on the jets. His speed was electrifying, weaving past two Derby players as if they weren't there. The crowd roared as he reached the edge of the box. With a simple, precise pass, he found Lewis Wing unmarked in the center.
Wing struck with confidence, his shot low and true, beating Hamer to find the bottom corner.
The Middlesbrough fans erupted, their cheers echoing across the stadium as Wing raced to the stands, arms outstretched.
Derby's players gathered near the center circle, visibly frustrated. David adjusted his armband, his lips pressed into a thin line. Wayne Rooney clapped his hands from the sidelines, urging his team to refocus.
The goal seemed to ignite something in Derby. David, in particular, began to shine. He took on defenders with ease, his quick feet and sharp turns leaving them chasing shadows. In one moment of brilliance, he darted past two players, cutting inside to deliver a cross that Waghorn narrowly missed.