Jonathan Woodgate has managed just two wins since becoming Middlesbrough manager in the summer
Struggling Middlesbrough's winless run was extended to eight games as they lost 2-0 at Derby County.
Tom Lawrence scored both goals for the Rams, his first since being convicted for drink-driving after his involvement in a car crash which saw former Derby captain Richard Keogh seriously injured.
The 25-year-old former Leicester City player, capped 20 times by Wales, opened the scoring when he slotted in from the edge of the box.
Boro's task was made even harder when George Saville was sent off for a nasty late challenge on Krystian Bielik after 30 minutes.
Lawrence wrapped up the win late on as he interchanged passes with Omar Bogle, beat a couple of defenders and shot home left-footed.
The result meant Middlesbrough are now two points adrift of safety and two places off the bottom of the Championship table, while the Rams are up to 15th place.
While Boro's form is still poor Derby's revival continues - they have now won four of their past seven matches having not won any of their seven games prior to that.
The visitors almost took the lead in the first two minutes as Britt Assombalonga intercepted a poor backpass and rounded the keeper, but his effort was superbly blocked by Matthew Clarke.
But after Lawrence's opener Derby had all the chances - Curtis Davies' header forcing a good save from Aynsley Pears, while Jack Marriott had three efforts in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
The short-handed visitors failed to trouble Derby after the break as the hosts spurned a host of opportunities, Chris Martin, Duane Holmes and Lawrence all going close to increasing the lead.
Derby County manager Phillip Cocu told BBC Radio Derby:
"It was a shaking start. If they scored the first goal in two minutes it would have been an extremely hard game.
"I think after the first moment we got in the game very good.
"As a team they don't concede a lot of goals.
"We scored a good goal, after that it was just keep on playing, don't go down in the rhythm and the pace, and keep trying to push for a second one.
"We had to be patient. In the end you could see they couldn't run the gaps and we created a lot of chances on goal."
Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate told BBC Radio Tees:
"People say the league table tells the truth, it's not. It's lying at the minute.
"We have had chances to score goals, we have missed opportunities, we have had referee's decisions not go in our favour.
"We have seen where we are. The players need to look at themselves. I look at myself constantly and the players need to do that as well.
"At the start it was decent, until we got a man sent off, that's when it was a different ball game.
"It is frustrating, really frustrating when you get top chances in the last four games - we should be scoring them goals."
