A CLINICAL Jamie Ward strike 20 minutes from time brought an end to Middlesbrough’s proud clean sheet record at the Riverside Stadium as Nottingham Forest left Teesside with the points.

Ward became the first visiting player to score against Boro on Teesside in 921 minutes of Championship football to inflict defeat on the leaders, meaning Hull City have dethroned Aitor Karanka’s men at the top of the pile.

The loss means that Middlesbrough, who also lost at Bristol City seven days ago, have suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time under Karanka’s guidance; the last time was way back in April 2014.

Middlesbrough only showed why they lead the way in flashes and struggled to find top gear for the fourth game in a row against a Forest side which is now undefeated in 12 under Dougie Freedman.

In truth the visitors’ goalkeeper Dorus de Vries was never seriously tested and when Middlesbrough should have found the net they fluffed their lines.

Karanka made the decision to replace Stewart Downing at half-time in a bid to change things, but nothing really did and Middlesbrough struggled to create a great deal of chances.

The best of those they did create fell to defenders, with Emilio Nsue guilty of somehow heading over from inside six yards when Albert Adomah picked him out at the far post unmarked.

Grant Leadbitter fired a brilliant volley against the bar for Middlesbrough, but Forest also hit the woodwork when Ben Osborn’s drive rolled to safety after crashing the inside of Dimi Konstantopoulos’ inside corner.

But the move of the game resulted in the only goal. Ward, a surprise inclusion up front, started the move by rolling a pass down the flank for Oliver Burke to run on to.

Burke then picked out his team-mate, who had moved to a more central position on the edge of the box, and Ward side-footed a lovely finish inside Konstantopoulos’ bottom left corner.

Middlesbrough, who will have to assess the shoulder problem which forced reliable left-back George Friend off before the break, pressed in the latter stages but they were toothless in the box and Forest maintained their lead.

And, after Nelson Oliviera had tested Konstantpoulos twice in the closing stages, Middlesbrough could not prevent Forest from winning on Teesside for the first time since 1993.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Amorebieta, Friend (Kalas 39); Leadbitter (Kike 81), Clayton; Adomah, Downing (Forshaw 46), Stuani; Nugent. Subs: Mejias (gk), De Pena, Fry, Kike Sola.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): De Vries; Lichaj, Hobbs, Mills, Jokic; Mancienne, Gardner (Wilson 89); Tesche, Osborn, O Burke (Oliveira 76); Ward (Mendes 83). Subs: subs: Evtimov, Cohen, Blackstock, O'Grady.