Nottingham Forest 1-1 Middlesbrough: Paddy McNair penalty secures point for Boro

Northern Ireland international Paddy McNair netted his third goal of the season for Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough frustrated promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest after grabbing a late point at the City Ground.

Forest went ahead just after the hour mark when midfielder Ryan Yates emphatically headed in Matty Cash's cross from six yards out.

Paddy McNair levelled for the visitors from the penalty spot with nine minutes remaining after Jack Robinson tripped substitute Marvin Johnson.

Improving Boro, who have suffered just one defeat in six, are now four points above the relegation zone, while Forest remain fifth, with a two-point advantage over seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday.

• Relive Tuesday's Championship action

With Fulham and Bristol City both losing on Tuesday, victory would have taken Forest up to third in the Championship table but Sabri Lamouchi's side had to settle for a draw despite dominating possession.

The first half was a dour encounter, with the only real chance of note coming when Boro striker Ashley Fletcher headed straight at home keeper Brice Samba after being picked out by Hayden Coulson.

Sammy Ameobi called Boro goalkeeper Aynsley Pears into action with a fierce left-footed effort soon after the restart and Forest hit the bar when Yates struck a shot from the edge of the area down and into the ground before the ball bounced beyond the reach of Pears.

Yates' first senior goal at home for the Reds looked to have set the hosts on course for three points but McNair, who had earlier forced a good save from Samba, made no mistake from 12 yards as he sent his penalty high into the net.

The hosts had a chance to carve out an opportunity from a set-piece in injury time, but Joao Carvalho put his free-kick delivery from the left flank straight into the arms of Pears.

Forest's momentum has been checked in recent weeks, and one win in four games has left them 11 points adrift of the automatic promotion places before second-placed West Bromwich Albion travel to Wigan Athletic on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi:

"We need more character, particularly when we play at home, because the game was in our hands. I am disappointed, because we controlled the game until the goal.

"When we went ahead, we dropped back 20 yards. Maybe we were afraid to win. But we must play for the second goal, to close off the game.

"If you do not achieve the second goal, do not give them an opportunity. We have a lot of regrets.

"We need to find a solution. We must keep going; we must be positive. I am upset, like the players - because we lost two points tonight."

Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate told BBC Tees:

"I'm really pleased but I thought it was what we deserved really.

"The subs we made were really good and they made a difference. You win and lose on making decisions and today we got them right.

"I've got players who are willing to go that extra yard for each other and that showed.

"I'm really pleased with how the young players have stepped up."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Nottm Forest

• 30Samba
• 11Cash
• 20Dawson
• 4WorrallBooked at 87mins
• 18RobinsonBooked at 90mins
• 22YatesSubstituted forAdomahat 84'minutes
• 8Watson
• 23Lolley
• 28SilvaBooked at 27minsSubstituted forSemedoat 77'minutesBooked at 83mins
• 19AmeobiSubstituted forCarvalhoat 72'minutes
• 7Grabban

Substitutes

• 3Figueiredo
• 10Carvalho
• 14Mir
• 17Semedo
• 36Chema
• 37Adomah
• 49Muric

Middlesbrough

• 42Pears
• 29SpenceBooked at 24minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 67'minutes
• 16Howson
• 4Ayala
• 6Fry
• 33Coulson
• 17McNair
• 8ClaytonSubstituted forWalkerat 74'minutes
• 22Saville
• 11FletcherBooked at 85mins
• 7Tavernier

Substitutes

• 1Mejias
• 21Johnson
• 25Wood
• 27Bola
• 35O'Neill
• 36Walker
• 37Liddle

Referee:

Andy Woolmer

Attendance:

24,577

Match Stats

Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamMiddlesbrough

Possession

Home61%

Away39%

Shots

Home9

Away9

Shots on Target

Home3

Away3

Corners

Home10

Away1

Fouls

Home13

Away20

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Middlesbrough 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Middlesbrough 1.

Posted at 90'+3'

Hand ball by Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough).

Booking

Posted at 90'+1'

Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest).

Posted at 90'+1'

Marvin Johnson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'

Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Marvin Johnson (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 89'

Michael Dawson (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 88'

Matthew Cash (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 88'

Attempt missed. George Saville (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcus Tavernier.

Booking

Posted at 87'

Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest).

Posted at 87'

Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Marvin Johnson (Middlesbrough).

Booking

Posted at 85'

Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 84'

Michael Dawson (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough).

Substitution

Posted at 84'

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Albert Adomah replaces Ryan Yates.

Booking

Posted at 83'

Alfa Semedo (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Alfa Semedo (Nottingham Forest).

Posted at 83'

Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough).

Goal!

Posted at 81'

Goal! Nottingham Forest 1, Middlesbrough 1. Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.

Posted at 80'

Penalty conceded by Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest) after a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 80'

Penalty Middlesbrough. Marvin Johnson draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Alfa Semedo replaces Tiago Silva.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest).

Posted at 76'

Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Stephen Walker replaces Adam Clayton.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. João Carvalho replaces Sammy Ameobi.

Posted at 69'

Tiago Silva (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 68'

Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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