- A goal in each half beats The Reds
- Andraz Sporar and Onel Hernandez on target for the Teessiders
The Reds made two changes from the starting XI against Cardiff at the weekend, with Ethan Horvath making his Forest league debut in place of Brice Samba in goal and Loic Mbe Soh replacing the ineligible Djed Spence at right back for his first appearance since injury at Coventry on the opening day.
Xande Silva was also on the bench for the first time since his deadline day move from West Ham United.
James Lea-Siliki drove an early shot over Horvath’s bar but it was The Reds who attacked with purpose in the early stages with The City Ground crowd offering plenty of encouragement.
Philip Zinckernagel started the match on the left with Brennan Johnson the right and the Dane won a corner in the first five minutes which nearly found Lyle Taylor ghosting in at the far post. The Reds forced two further corners from James Garner which came nothing.
After 11 minutes, Max Lowe made a run deep into ‘Boro territory and fed Zinckernagel whose low shot from the edge of the box was saved by Joe Lumley. The rebound fell invitingly to Lewis Grabban but Lumley scrambled the ball over, albeit Grabban was flagged for offside. Moments later it was Johnson cutting in on the other wing and shooting straight at Lumley from similar range.
Horvath was forced into his first action on the quarter hour confidently catching a free kick and setting Johnson free on the right, his cross was met by Zinckerngel’s header but it was deflected harmlessly to the keeper.
After 20 minutes Max Lowe, who was providing an attacking threat from left back with his runs, again linked with Zinckernagel who found James Garner on the edge of the box but he steered his shot wide of Lumley’s post.
‘Boro had only won one of their league matches this season but both teams were playing with energy and confidence in an entertaining opening quarter.
After 24 minutes, ‘Boro took the lead. Andraz Sporar was slipped through the inside right channel by Marcus Tavernier, after Forest appeals for a foul on Zinckernagel by Anfernee Dijksteel were waved away. Sporar, on loan from Sporting Lisbon, then lashed home a rasping drive from just inside the box past Horvath.
Shortly afterwards the Slovenian goalscorer was booked for pulling back Garner.
Just before the half hour Zinckernagel found Grabban on the right and, from the cross, the ball fell invitingly to Garner whose shot was blocked for a corner.
Zinckernagel’s free kick from the left was then cleared and after Johnson’s shot was partly blocked, Mbe Soh cleverly flicked the loose ball towards goal but Lumley gathered.
Into a minute of injury time, referee Andy Woolmer booked a second ‘Boro player when Jonny Howson stopped Grabban breaking on halfway.
From the free free-kick Johnson picked up a stray ball and crossed dangerously for Taylor whose knock back seemed to fall invitingly for Joe Worrall but his shot from six yards was deflected for a corner.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Middlesbrough
‘Boro started the second half on the front foot with Matt Crooks and Onel Hernandez both working Ethan Horvath with low drives.
The Reds were now attacking the Trent End and Brennan Johnson flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal with Lyle Taylor unable to connect.
Shortly afterwards, Johnson again raided down the right only for Lee Peltier to hold him back to be the third ‘Boro name in referee Andy Woolmer’s book. From the free kick the ball eventually broke to Zinckernagel but his cross from a dangerous position landed on the roof of the net.
The City Ground were again giving The Reds their backing and ten minutes into the second Lewis Grabban tried his luck from 30 yards but his fierce drive drifted wide.
Patient build up by Forest resulted in a free kick 35 yards out just before the hour mark. The ball bounced free to Philip Zinckernagel whose two fierce drives were blocked. From the resulting loose ball, Crooks was the next ‘Boro player in the book for fouling James Garner.
On 63 minutes, a ‘Boro attack down the left ended with James Lea-Siliki shooting low at Horvath from the edge of the box.
Midway through the half, Chris Hughton made a double change with Xande Silva making his Reds debut replacing Taylor and Joe Lolley replacing Garner.
On 68 minutes, Ryan Yates became the first Forest man in the book for pulling back Marcus Tavernier with the ‘Boro man then curling the free kick wide of Horvath’s near post.
On 72 minutes, Boro doubled their lead. Horvath failed to control a back pass from Loic Mbe Soh and Onel Hernandez nipped in to claim the loose ball and roll into the empty net, with the former Norwich man then booked for his celebrations.
With ten minutes left, Ryan Yates broke forward but his 25 yard shot went wide and moments later Grabban and Silva combined in the box but the forward dragged wide.
Moments later, Grant Hall met a Marcus Tavernier free kick at the back post with a firm header but Horvath saved well low down.
Brennan Johnson pulled another dangerous ball across the face of the box in injury time but ‘Boro kept their clean sheet and departed to Teesside with al three points.
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Middlesbrough
MATCH STATISTICS
Nottingham Forest (4-4-2): Ethan Horvath; Max Lowe, Scott McKenna, Joe Worrall, Loic Mbe Soh (Jayden Richardson 74’); Brennan Johnson, James Garner (Joe Lolley 66’), Ryan Yates; Philip Zinckernagel; Lewis Grabban (c), Lyle Taylor (Xande Silva 66’)
Substitutes not used: Brice Samba (GK), Tobias Figueiredo, Cafu, João Carvalho
Bookings: Ryan Yates (68’)
Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Joe Lumley; Lee Peltier, Grant Hall, Dael Fry, Anfernee Dijksteel; James Lea-Siliki (Isaiah Jones 71’), Jonny Howson (c); Onel Hernandez (Duncan Whatmore 87’), Matt Crooks, Marcus Tavernier; Andraz Sporar (Uche Ikpeazu 80’)
Substitutes not used: Luke Daniels (GK), Toyois Olusanya, Sol Bamba, Connor Malley
Goals: Andraz Sporar (24’), Onel Hernandez (72’)
Bookings: Andraz Sporar (25’), Jonny Howson (45’), Lee Peltier (49’), Matt Crooks (62’), Onel Hernandez (73’)
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Attendance: 23,830 including 1,420 Middlesbrough fans
Possession: 58%-42%
Shots: 15-13
Shots on target: 3-6
Corners: 6-7