Goals:

0-1: Ward (70, started and finished the move with a crisp low finish inside the keeper’s bottom left)

Bookings: Ward (24, foul); Lichaj (30, foul); Clayton (35, dissent); Amorebieta (60, foul); Jokic (76, foul)

Sending-off: None

Referee: Fred Graham (Stanford-le-Hope) – hasn’t had too many Championship fixtures but controlled the game well enough. 6

Attendance: 24,975

Entertainment: 2/5

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):

5 Konstantopoulos: Never really made a save until late on when Oliviera tested him twice;

4 Nsue: Wasted a fantastic header which would have put Boro up when it was goalless

6 Ayala: Not as effective as he has been this season even if he was still the pick of the back four

4 Amorebieta: Gifted possession to the visitors a few times and struggled a bit in an attacking sense when asked to play left-back

5 Friend: battled on for as long as he could with a shoulder problem picked up early in the first half;

6 CLAYTON: Kept things ticking over but unable to impose himself on the game like he can

5 Leadbitter: Very similar afternoon to Clayton but was the man to make way in the second half;

6 Stuani: Still looks more of centre-forward for a lone striker role in the Boro squad despite being asked to play right

4 Downing: A few lovely passes but unable to reach his best and the man to make way

6 Adomah: Sent in a number of good crosses in the second half which failed to end in a goal;

4 Nugent: Playing with his back to goal for much of the afternoon but that seems to be what is being asked of him

Subs:

Kalas (for Friend 39): Slotted in at the heart of the defence and played his part. 5

Forshaw (for Downing 46): Asked to provide a spark and tried without really creating much. 5

Kike (for Leadbitter 81)

(not used): Mejias (gk), De Pena, Fry, Kike Sola.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-4-2): De Vries 5; Lichaj 7, Hobbs 6, Mills 7, Jokic 7; Mancienne 7, Gardner 6 (Wilson 89); Tesche 5, Osborn 7, O Burke 6 (Oliveira 76); WARD 8 (Mendes 83). Subs: subs: Evtimov (gk), Cohen, Blackstock, O'Grady.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Jamie Ward – was always a nuisance with his running before starting and finishing the move which sealed the points which knocked Boro off top spot.