Match ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Middlesbrough 2.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest1MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough2
Middlesbrough won at Nottingham Forest for the first time since 1999 to firm up second place in the Championship.
David Nugent gave Boro the lead inside the first two minutes after poor defending from Forest, before Matt Mills volleyed home from a corner to make it 1-1 after just seven minutes.
Daniel Ayala headed the visitors back in front before the break.
Henri Lansbury had the chance to save a point for the hosts but goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos kept out his penalty.
Both teams went into the game in good form, with Forest having won their last two and Boro victorious in their last four matches in all competitions.
It was the visitors who made the perfect start when summer signing Nugent flicked home after George Friend had sent in a low cross that Forest failed to deal with.
Mills, who was forced off with a hamstring injury later in the first half, made sure the lead was short-lived thanks to a lovely cushioned volley from a Lansbury corner.
Nugent and Albert Adomah both forced good reaction stops from Dorus de Vries as Boro looked to get back in front, before Ayala bravely headed the ball home from close range after a short corner caused havoc in the home defence.
Forest started brightly after the break and Ryan Mendes and Chris O'Grady brought fine saves from Konstantopoulos in the Boro goal.
The Greek goalkeeper then secured all three points for his side when he denied Lansbury from the spot with 12 minutes to go after Ben Gibson had handled in the area.
Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman: "We were playing against the side I believe will be the champions of the division come the end of the season.
"I understand what Forest fans want, I cannot always deliver it, but we did play some attractive football today and we created numerous opportunities.
"You are not going to see me with my chin on my chest. Is there progress here? Yes there is."
Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka: "We have made a mistake for the goal and the game was difficult, but we got the second goal and we got the result.
"We lost here last season in a similar type of game, but we have won this time because we have the quality, because we have experience; we have experienced players on the pitch.
"In the end, that helped us to collect the three points."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-4-2
- 1de Vries
- 2Lichaj
- 5MillsSubstituted forHobbsat 18'minutes
- 6WilsonBooked at 22mins
- 31Pinillos
- 15Mendes da Graça
- 10Lansbury
- 24VaughanBooked at 79mins
- 38OsbornSubstituted forWardat 45'minutes
- 17OliveiraSubstituted forWilliamsat 75'minutes
- 29O'Grady
Substitutes
- 19Ward
- 20Williams
- 23Blackstock
- 25Hobbs
- 26Evtimov
- 27Burke
- 37Grant
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Konstantopoulos
- 24Nsue
- 4AyalaBooked at 85mins
- 6GibsonBooked at 66mins
- 3Friend
- 8ClaytonBooked at 69mins
- 7LeadbitterBooked at 81mins
- 27AdomahSubstituted forFabbriniat 58'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 18StuaniSubstituted forForshawat 87'minutes
- 19Downing
- 35NugentBooked at 9minsSubstituted forKikeat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Amorebieta
- 9Kike
- 10De Pena
- 13Mejias
- 26Kalas
- 31Fabbrini
- 34Forshaw
- Referee:
- Lee Mason
- Attendance:
- 20,993
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamMiddlesbrough
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away9
- Corners
- Home11
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Middlesbrough 2.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris O'Grady (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Eric Lichaj.
Post update
Daniel Pinillos (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Diego Fabbrini (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Foul by Adam Forshaw (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Jonathan Williams (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Chris O'Grady tries a through ball, but Ryan Mendes is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Henri Lansbury.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Grant Leadbitter.
Post update
Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Attempt missed. Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jonathan Williams.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Adam Forshaw replaces Christian Stuani because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Christian Stuani (Middlesbrough) because of an injury.
Booking
Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Ryan Mendes (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Christian Stuani (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Diego Fabbrini.
