- Reds suffer first away defeat since August
- Yates own-goal and Šporar strike seal win for Boro
Steve Cooper made two enforced changes from the 2-1 victory before Christmas against Hull City for the visit to Teesside. Tobias Figueiredo and Fin Back replaced the ineligible Djed Spence who was unavailable against his parent club, and Jordi Osei-Tutu who will be out for around two months, as will Alex Mighten who was also injured in the Hull fixture.
Braian Ojeda and Xande Silva were new additions on the bench as Forest started in their 3-4-3 formation. Ryan Yates slotted back into his central midfield position after playing centre-half in the victories against Swansea and Hull. Fin Back was the right wing-back and Jack Colback on the left.
Like The Reds, Middlesbrough have enjoyed a recent revival under their new manager, Chris Wilder, and they started the match just a point behind Forest in ninth position in the table.
Over 2,000 Forest fans had made the trip to Teesside on an extremely wet Boxing Day afternoon, joining a near capacity crowd at the Riverside.
The hosts started brightly and, on five minutes, Onel Hernández found space just inside the box but his shot from Isaiah Jones’ cut back was deflected wide for a corner by Figueiredo.
After 17 minutes, Forest gifted Boro the lead through a bizarre own goal by Ryan Yates. Brice Samba passed to Yates on the edge of The Reds’ box and, when closed down by Jonny Howson, his return ball to Samba went straight into the right hand corner of the net.
The host were buoyed by the goal and Andraž Šporar, who scored against The Reds at The City Ground in September, narrowly missed two chances in quick succession - firstly, failing to connect with another Jones cross and then seeing Samba expertly save his shot from twelve yards with his outstretched right foot.
The Reds responded with their first effort of the match from Philip Zinckernagel which was high and wide but Boro countered to create two further chances, both saved by Samba down to his right, first from Šporar again and then from Jones.
Boro were on top at this stage but Jonny Howson was the first name in referee Joshua Smith’s book for fouling Zinckernagel near halfway.
After half an hour, Samba again saved The Reds, this time diving to his left to claw away Neil Taylor’s shot after he escaped in the Forest box.
It was an eventful start to the match for Samba who then became the first Reds player booked when he was cautioned for time wasting.
Boro nearly created another opening when Worrall’s pass was intercepted and, on the counter, Boro were suddenly two-on-one but Hernández failed to find the unmarked Šporar.
Forest then produced their best move of the half when Lewis Grabban slipped the ball inside to Zinckernagel but Paddy McNair covered to concede a corner as the Dane was about to shoot from eight yards.
Five minutes before the break, Boro nearly doubled their lead when Taylor’s deep cross found Jones at the far post but his close-range volley struck Samba’s left hand post.
The Reds then forced two corners before the break but it was Boro who had dominated the first period and deserved their one-goal advantage.
HALF-TIME: Middlesbrough 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Steve Cooper made a change at the break, with João Carvalho replacing Tobias Figueiredo as The Reds reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Lewis Grabban as the sole striker.
A turnover by James Garner in midfield allowed Grabban to break into Boro territory but his pass to Brennan Johnson on the right was behind the Welshman and the opportunity passed.
The Reds were still struggling to find their usual fluency but on the hour they should have levelled. Johnson slipped Paddy McNair on the right and pulled the ball back invitingly to Philip Zinckernagel who shot over from seven yards.
The Dane was then replaced by Xande Silva as The Reds found their best spell of possession in the match. From Johnson’s right wing cross, Joe Worrall headed onto the roof of Joe Lumley’s net.
Boro’s first threat of the half came midway though the period when Andraž Šporar shot into the side-netting from eight yards out.
After 69 minutes, Boro doubled their lead. Matt Crooks and Isaiah Jones combined down the right and from the former’s cross, Samba could only parry with Šporar on hand to sweep the ball home from close-range.
Carvalho was booked for a late challenge on Anfernee Dijksteel to become the second Forest player booked, and with 15 minutes to play, Lyle Taylor replaced Grabban as The Reds looked to find a way back into the contest with their third and final substitution.
The Reds nearly scrambled a goal back with 10 minutes left when Joe Lumley hit Isaiah Jones after Taylor’s header caused confusion in the Boro box.
A fine Forest move resulted in Silva striking the right-hand post from 12 yards following Jack Colback’s pull-back as The Reds ended the match pushing for a consolation.
Yates picked up a yellow card for a challenge on Dael Fry as three minutes were added on, before the full-time whistle blew.
It was The Reds’ first defeat in 10 matches and the first time they had experienced defeat on the road since the reverse at Stoke City in August.
FULL-TIME: Middlesbrough 2-0 Nottingham Forest
MATCH STATISTICS
Middlesbrough (3-4-3): Joe Lumley; Anfernee Dijksteel, Dael Fry, Paddy McNair; Isaiah Jones (Lee Peltier 84'), Jonny Howson, Matt Crooks, Neil Taylor; Marcus Tavernier, Andraž Šporar (Martín Payero 90'), Onel Hernández (Duncan Watmore 65')
Substitutes not used: Luke Daniels, Uche Ikpeazu, Sol Bamba, James Léa Siliki
Goals: Ryan Yates 17' (OG), Andraž Šporar 69'
Bookings: Jonny Howson 26'
Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Joe Worrall, Tobias Figueiredo (João Carvalho 46'), Scott McKenna; Fin Back, James Garner, Ryan Yates, Jack Colback; Philip Zinckernagel (Xande Silva 62'); Brennan Johnson, Lewis Grabban (Lyle Taylor 74')
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath, Gaëtan Bong, Cafú, Braian Ojeda
Bookings: Brice Samba 33', João Carvalho 71', Ryan Yates 90'
Referee: Joshua Smith
Attendance: 29,832 including 2,141 Forest supporters
Possession: 55%-45%
Shots: 12-7
Shots on target: 6-0
Corners: 6-8