Having once been described as a cross between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it would be fair to say Adama Traore still has a way to go.
A work in progress, certainly. Raw talent, plenty. In a crucial Championship match against top-six rivals, Traore endeared himself to one section of Pride Park and enraged the rest.
He can be a bit theatrical, which never goes down well in away games, and he has a tendency to pick up yellow and red cards.
Muhamed Besic runs away in celebration after opening the scoring for Middlesbrough
Striker Britt Assombalonga wrapped up three points on the road by scoring in the second half
He checked before running off to celebrate as Pulis’s side pulled off a win over their rivals
But when he just concentrates on the job in hand, he can be a real pest as he showed by making goals for Muhamed Besic and Britt Assombalonga to keep Boro firmly in the promotion hunt.
Maybe not quite the Messi-Ronaldo combo, as described by Tim Sherwood during his time at Aston Villa but not bad for a Saturday afternoon in the Midlands.
As for Derby, the cruel visiting supporters’ taunts summed it up – ‘Derby County, it’s happened again’ seconds before the second goal.
A last-minute penalty, scored by David Nugent, sparked brief hope that something would be salvaged but to no avail.
County have been hanging on by their fingernails but last week’s dismal show at Burton saw Derby drop out of the top six for the frst time since November.
And to think they were in an automatic promotion place 12 games ago. A gung-ho call to arms from manager Gary Rowett in January has had virtually no response from the players, who are once again living up to their reputation as second-half-of-season bottlers.
The two promotion chasers went into the game knowing three points would be vital
Last week angry fans confronted goalkeeper Scott Carson and filmed it as he emerged from a charity function, which seems particularly harsh given Carson has been one of the steadier performers.
Defender Curtis Davies admitted the team lacked heart and desire at their relegation-threatened neighbours last week, a damning indictment. All in all, a depressing scenario yet not a lost cause.
Finishing with three home games out of four, and with the benefit of a match in hand (admittedly, against Cardiff), there was still an opportunity to grab.
Middlesbrough have been grabbing their opportunity under wily old fox Tony Pulis, who last took a team into the Premier League in 2008 with Stoke City. Two defeats in 12 now has seen Boro nose into contention.
So, according to recent form, this match was destined to be all about the visitors. In fact, with the help of a noisy home crowd, it was Derby who started the stronger and who built up a head of steam first.
Had Bradley Johnson been on target with a header from Tom Lawrence’s corner, who knows what might have happened next.
There were furious claims for a penalty too when George Friend and Matej Vydra went down in a tangle but referee Lee Probert was unmoved.
The official, perhaps expecting a physical confrontation, booked Adam Clayton in the opening 50 seconds, laying down a marker. Having been in charge for the first quarter of the game, Derby found themselves behind with a move which asked a thousand questions about defensive placings.
Traore darted down the right, crossed for Besic, who took one step and connected perfectly. The effort was so powerful that Carson managed to get a touch without being able to divert it.
At the squeaky-bum end of the campaign, it can all come down to who takes their chances. For Derby the focus was on Vydra, supporters’ player of the season, PFA team of the year and EFL team of the year.
The 20-goal striker would swap the lot for a place in the Premier League. He has history, too, having hit a hat-trick in the Championship win in November to make it four in five games against Boro.
Pulis had clearly highlighted him as the danger man and the forward had one of his most anonymous games, subbed after an hour.
But it was the away side that took charge of the game and ran out comfortable winners
Nugent and Tom Lawrence tried to fill in with Nugent not far away with a long-range effort and Lawrence forcing a save from Darren Randolph. Boro goalkeeper Randolph was called on again to deny Marcus Olsson.
But Boro looked comfortable and dangerous on the break. Jonny Howson skimmed the bar before Traore repeated his first-goal trick and set up Assombalonga.
The Derby fans were streaming towards the exit long before the end with Cardiff next on Tuesday.
Many missed Daniel Ayala’s challenge on Curtis Davies which earned the home side a penalty, taken well by Nugent. Too little, too late.