Middlesbrough 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Middlesbrough scorer Daniel Ayala spent a season on loan at Forest in 2012-13, scoring once in 12 appearances

Middlesbrough bolstered their play-off hopes as Aitor Karanka's return to the Riverside Stadium as Nottingham Forest boss ended in defeat.

Forest old boy Daniel Ayala gave Boro an early lead as he turned and planted a fine finish into the top corner.

Ayala then turned provider, flicking on for Stewart Downing to drill a low finish past Costel Pantilimon.

The visitors improved after the break, but failed to score for the fifth successive match.

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Former Forest strikers Patrick Bamford and Britt Assombalonga were in the Middlesbrough squad, but it was their former centre-back who did the damage, scoring from the first corner of the match before teeing up Boro's second goal for Downing.

Forest's failure to defend set-pieces was again their undoing, conceding from a corner for the 11th time in the league this season before George Friend's long throw into the box led to the second goal.

Ben Osborn also had to clear off the line from Friend's free header as Boro dominated the first half.

Tony Pulis' side were then happy to absorb the increasing pressure and defend their two-goal lead, with Lee Tomlin's powerful drive, pushed away by Darren Randolph, as close as Karanka's men came.

Middlesbrough are sixth and a point ahead of Millwall, while Forest, who have failed to score in their past 462 minutes of action, are 17th.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis told BBC Tees:

"I thought first half we were very good and the worst thing was half-time. It took the steam out of us and gave them a chance to clear their heads, and they came out and played some good football.

"I'm very, very pleased. Aitor sets his teams up very, very well - they're very good in possession and they're very strong defensively.

"I thought we created a lot of chances today against a team that's well set-up."

Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka told BBC Nottingham:

"You can't concede two goals from set-pieces. I'm upset and disappointed, but also confident with the future.

"I have my explanation, but I prefer not to say anything. It's for the manager to know why and what's happening in the first half.

"All of them are trying their best but, again, when you have so many shots and have only three on target, and they have seven you can see the difference."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Middlesbrough

• 25Randolph
• 5ShottonBooked at 57mins
• 4Ayala
• 6Gibson
• 3Friend
• 16Howson
• 7Leadbitter
• 27BesicSubstituted forClaytonat 63'minutes
• 37TraoréSubstituted forAssombalongaat 81'minutes
• 11BamfordSubstituted forCranieat 89'minutes
• 19Downing

Substitutes

• 1Konstantopoulos
• 2da Silva
• 8Clayton
• 9Assombalonga
• 14Cranie
• 20Fry
• 23Harrison

Nottm Forest

• 1Pantilimon
• 27Darikwa
• 3Pereira FigueiredoBooked at 34mins
• 13Fox
• 11Osborn
• 32Watson
• 18Colback
• 20DowellBooked at 13minsSubstituted forMcKayat 59'minutes
• 15Tomlin
• 23Lolley
• 39VelliosSubstituted forBreretonat 59'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Lichaj
• 4Mancienne
• 5Guédioura
• 7Bridcutt
• 10McKay
• 17Brereton
• 33Kapino

Referee:

David Webb

Attendance:

25,812

Match Stats

Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamNottm Forest

Possession

Home38%

Away62%

Shots

Home13

Away14

Shots on Target

Home8

Away3

Corners

Home5

Away8

Fouls

Home9

Away7

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Nottingham Forest 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Nottingham Forest 0.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Britt Assombalonga (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Britt Assombalonga (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jonny Howson.

Substitution

Posted at 89'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Martin Cranie replaces Patrick Bamford.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Britt Assombalonga.

Posted at 84'

Daniel Fox (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Britt Assombalonga (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 82'

Lee Tomlin (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough).

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Britt Assombalonga replaces Adama Traoré.

Posted at 80'

Attempt saved. Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jack Colback.

Posted at 77'

Daniel Fox (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 77'

Attempt saved. Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.

Posted at 76'

Attempt blocked. George Friend (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adama Traoré.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Ben Watson (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Posted at 73'

Attempt missed. Barrie McKay (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Lolley.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Daniel Fox (Nottingham Forest).

Posted at 70'

Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 68'

Attempt blocked. Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 67'

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Ben Gibson.

Posted at 67'

Attempt blocked. Ben Brereton (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Barrie McKay.

Posted at 66'

Lee Tomlin (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 65'

Attempt missed. Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Substitution

Posted at 63'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Adam Clayton replaces Muhamed Besic.

Substitution

Posted at 59'

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Barrie McKay replaces Kieran Dowell.

Substitution

Posted at 59'

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Ben Brereton replaces Apostolos Vellios.

Posted at 58'

Attempt missed. Tobias Figueiredo (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tendayi Darikwa with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 58'

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Ryan Shotton.

Posted at 58'

Attempt blocked. Ben Watson (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Posted at 58'

Attempt blocked. Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Booking

Posted at 57'

Ryan Shotton (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 57'

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Grant Leadbitter.

Posted at 57'

Attempt blocked. Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Watson.

Posted at 54'

Attempt blocked. Lee Tomlin (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Colback.

Posted at 52'

Foul by Apostolos Vellios (Nottingham Forest).

Posted at 52'

Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 48'

Daniel Fox (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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