MIDDLESBROUGH suffered a set-back for the second successive Saturday in the Championship’s promotion race after losing from a winning position at the City Ground.

After Grant Leadbitter had given Boro the lead with a fortunate cross-cum-shot to the back post in the 27th minute, Aitor Karanka’s side looked destined to reclaim top spot after Bournemouth’s Friday night victory had dethroned them.

But then Forest, who spent the majority of the second half successfully keeping the visitors’ advances at bay, showed their opponents how to make the most of chances that fall their way by converting two of their very few to send Karanka’s men down to fourth on goal difference with Watford, Derby and Bournemouth above them.

Craig Gardner was the first to deliver 11 minutes before half-time and then Dexter Blackstock made the most of the space he was allowed in the Middlesbrough box to hit the winner in the 65th minute.

And, unlike a week ago when changes were deemed to be the reason for failure at Hillsborough, Karanka’s tinkering could not be blamed this time. He does not normally like selecting the same team for consecutive matches but, after being caught out at Sheffield Wednesday, that is what he did at Forest.

After the home side, who suffered their first defeat under manager Dougie Freedman in midweek, had failed to find the net after a promising start, Middlesbrough soon found their feet going forward.

A couple of half chances had been created but goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who is on loan after his summer switch to Newcastle, was not beaten until Leadbitter’s freakish goal.

The skipper did well to torment his marker near the byline and then when he sent over a teasing cross to the back post it hit the woodwork and took a deflection off Michael Mancienne before dropping over the line.

But the lead only lasted seven minutes because Gardner, the brother of former Sunderland midfielder, levelled things up with a touch of magic.

Middlesbrough were slow to react when Gardner picked up possession 20 yards from goal. The extra space and time meant he could pick his spot and curl a precise finish in to Dimi Konstantopoulos’ top left corner.

After the restart Middlesbrough appeared to take control. Forest could hardly get hold of the ball but, with the exception of a deflected Kike shot which went wide, Darlow was never seriously tested.

And when winger Michail Antonio decided to step things up again that spelled bad news for the visitors. Before he teed up Forest’s second he had already had decent shouts for a penalty waved away when Tomas Kalas’ hand appeared to help thwart his cross.

But then Antonio successfully rounded Kalas moments later before rolling the ball to Blackstock. The striker, who had scored just one goal in 17 months before today, took a touch and powered a finish beyond Konstantopoulos after further defensive hesitation.

After that Middlesbrough pushed in search of an equaliser but were unable to hit the net again, although Kike did hit the post after a great cross from George Friend. Boro, though, were beaten.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Kane, Lascelles, Wilson, Lichaj; Mancienne, Gardner; Antonio, Lansbury (Osborn 46), Burke; Blackstock (Collins 87). Subs: de Vries (gk), Veldwijk, Paterson, Vaughan, Walker.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Fredericks (Nsue 38), Kalas, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter (Forshaw 82), Clayton; Adomah (Vossen 69), Tomlin, Bamford; Kike. Subs: Ripley (gk), Whitehead, Reach, Woodgate.