Graphic: Bill Edgar's tactical analysis

His manager called him “the king of Istanbul”, his captain intimated that he could become Middlesbrough’s most popular import since Juninho. Tuncay Sanli is winning over teammates and supporters alike not only for the class of his finishing, but for a willingness to work for the cause.

It is one thing to help your team to beat the Barclays Premier League leaders at home; quite another to show the guts and determination to win away to the bottom side. Tuncay has scored in each of these contrasting challenges to help to steer Middlesbrough away from the perils of relegation.

His goal at Pride Park on Saturday lit up a dismal game as Middlesbrough found Derby County’s players, in Paul Jewell’s first home match, in their faces at every turn. But then Stewart Downing clipped over an early cross and the Turkey forward, signed on a free transfer from Fenerbahçe last summer, flashed home a magnificent volley.

George Boateng believes that the 25-year-old has the character to prevail in English football. “It was a good goal in a totally different match to last week,” the Middlesbrough captain said. “It can be difficult to come into this league because one week you’re playing really attacking football, the next week, you’re showing real commitment and the right attitude.

“You could see at the start of the season that he [Tuncay] was lightning quick and had something about him. Then he had a dip, but now he is probably our best attacking player. The fans took to him from the first day.”

Southgate plays Tuncay higher up the pitch because of Mido’s absence through injury and the manager is reaping the rewards. “He’s a superstar in Turkey and sometimes that is difficult to adjust to,” Southgate said. “You come here and you’ve got to win over a new set of fans. That can be a shock to the system, but because he’s a fit guy, we’re starting to see his best.”

Immediately after Tuncay’s goal, Kenny Miller struck a post, but there was little other threat from Derby as Middlesbrough, for whom Boateng headed against a the woodwork and Jérémie Aliadière had a goal wrongly disallowed, left the home side six points adrift.

Derby can look decent in midfield but their front men want to play outside the penalty area and their back four, so bereft of confidence, look troubled in possession. Swindon Town are often cited as the worst team in Premier League history, but even they had nine points after 17 games; Sunderland had five points at this stage two years ago before recording the lowest-ever tally of 15. “If we are to stay in the Premier League,” Jewell said, “it’ll be a miracle.”

Derby County (4-4-2): S Bywater 7 – T Mears 6, D Moore 2, C Davis 4, A Griffin 4 (sub: J McEveley, 28min 4) – G Teale 4 (sub: S Howard, 54 5), M Oakley 6, D Leacock 6, S Pearson 5 – G Barnes 6, K Miller 5 (sub: R Earnshaw, 74). Substitutes not used: L Price, E Lewis. Next: Newcastle (a).

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): M Schwarzer 6 – L Young 6, D Wheater 6, J Woodgate 5, E Pogatetz 5 – G O’Neil 6, G Boateng 6, F Rochemback 5, S Downing 6 (sub: A Johnson, 90) – Tuncay Sanli 8, J Aliadière 7. Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, R Huth, Lee Dong Gook, L Cattermole. Next: West Ham (h).

Referee M Atkinson
Attendance 32,676