Penalty save proves crucial as Boro make it three wins in a week

Having already claimed wins over MK Dons and Brentford, Boro made it three victories in the space of seven days as they provided further confirmation of their promotion credentials at the City Ground.

Konstantopoulos had committed a howler as he allowed Brentford to equalise on Tuesday, but he capped a fine display against Forest by successfully keeping out Henri Lansbury’s 78th-minute spot-kick.

Boro were forced to dig deep in the second half, but Aitor Karanka’s side were eventually able to claim all three points thanks to first-half strikes from David Nugent and Daniel Ayala.

Forest defender Matt Mills cancelled out the first of those goals in a hectic opening spell that saw both sides score in the opening seven minutes, but Ayala responded before the interval and the Teessiders held on to their lead despite their opponents piling on the pressure in the final 45 minutes.

Having ended his exile with an influential performance from the substitutes’ bench in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Brentford, Albert Adomah returned to the starting line-up for the first time since last month’s bust up with Karanka.

The winger replaced Diego Fabbrini, with the only other change to the side that beat the Bees seeing a fit-again Ben Gibson return to the heart of the back four.

Boro finished strongly against Brentford, and they immediately picked up where they had left off as they tore into Forest from the outset and claimed the lead after just three minutes.

George Friend whipped in a tempting low cross from the left, and while Adomah couldn’t quite connect at the front post, Nugent stole ahead of his marker to turn home from inside the six-yard box.

It was the striker’s second goal since his £4m move from Leicester City, and represented the ideal start from the visitors’ perspective, but their advantage lasted just four minutes.

Nelson Oliveira saw his deflected shot drift narrowly over the crossbar, and with the game fizzing along at a frantic pace, Forest equalised from the resultant corner.

Henri Lansbury swung over the ball from the right, and centre-half Mills charged towards the edge of the six-yard box before hammering a vicious first-time volley past a helpless Konstantopoulos.

The goal pegged Boro back, but with Adam Clayton performing superbly at the heart of the midfield, the visitors quickly got themselves back onto the front foot.

Stewart Downing should have restored his side’s lead in the 11th minute, but after Clayton sent him galloping through the middle, the former England international rolled a low shot marginally too close to Dorus de Vries, who saved with his foot.

De Vries was at the heart of things again midway through the first half, this time producing an excellent double save to deny Nugent and Adomah. The goalkeeper’s first stop prevented Nugent drilling a low strike into the left-hand corner, and when the ball broke kindly to Adomah, De Vries was alert enough to keep out the midfielder’s follow-up shot.

The pace of Boro’s counter-attacking was evident all afternoon, along with their willingness to commit a large number of players forward whenever they attacked.

The ploy paid dividends shortly after the half-hour mark as they regained their advantage. Clayton delivered a dangerous cross from the right, Forest defender Kelvin Wilson could only head the ball back towards his own goal, and Ayala nipped into the six-yard box to glance home a header of his own.

A second goal was no more than Boro deserved, although they would have been pegged back again had Konstantopoulos not hurled himself to his left to keep out Eric Lichaj’s long-range strike shortly before the interval.

Konstantopoulos, who had erred as Brentford briefly equalised on Tuesday, produced an even better save two minutes into the second half.

Ryan Mendes had plenty of time to pick his spot as he found himself in space on the left-hand side of the area, but Konstantopoulos was quick off his line and successfully blocked the midfielder’s shot.

The Greek shot-stopper was at it again five minutes later, getting down to turn Lichaj’s shot around the post after the full-back had twisted free in the box.

With Nottingham Forest pressing for an equaliser, Boro found themselves with space to exploit on the break, and they almost claimed a third goal shortly before the hour mark.

Nugent broke clear down the left, Grant Leadbitter helped the ball infield, and Downing curled a 20-yard effort just over the crossbar.

Diego Fabbrini arrived to replace Adomah moments later, but Forest continued to press and Jamie Ward fired just wide after dribbling his way into the area.

The Teessiders spent most of the second half defending their own 18-yard box, and Konstantopoulos was called into action again in the 71st minute as he tipped Mendes’ bouncing strike around the post.

Even at that stage, the goalkeeper had covered himself in glory, but his best was still to come as he kept out Lansbury’s 78th-minute spot-kick.

Ben Gibson conceded the spot-kick, inexplicably handling the ball on the right of the area, but Lansbury’s penalty was a weak one and Konstantopoulos got down brilliantly to keep it out. He also produced an excellent follow-up save as Ward headed the loose ball back towards goal.

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1):  De Vries; Lichaj, Mills (Hobbs 18), Wilson, Pinillos; Lansbury, Vaughan; Osborn (Ward 46), Oliveira (Williams 75), Mendes; O’Grady.

Subs (not used): Evtimov, Burke, Grant, Blackstock.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Stuani (Forshaw 87), Downing, Adomah (Fabbrini 58); Nugent (Kike 67).

Subs (not used): Mejias (gk), Kalas, Amorebieta, de Pena.