BRITT ASSOMBALONGA had a nightmare return to the City Ground where Middlesbrough suffered a second away defeat of the season under Garry Monk.

The former Nottingham Forest striker wasted a few great chances and watched his old team hold on to secure three points early in his Boro career after making a £15m switch in the summer.

Forest’s fans constantly reminded him of their anger towards his decision to leave by jeering and aiming derogatory chants at him and they had the last laugh too by enjoying a 2-1 win.

Middlesbrough, who started poorly, had work to do as soon as Barrie McKay put Forest ahead in the 16th minute. Former Newcastle striker Daryl Murphy, effectively the man to replace Assombalonga in the side, hit the second from the spot 11 minutes from time.

Although Middlesbrough threatened to level after Ben Gibson, who had conceded the penalty, pulled one back with seven minutes remaining, Nottingham Forest it was who continued their promising start to the new campaign.

Monk had seen enough in the two home games to feel like he could stick with the same side and claim another positive result at the City Ground.

But Forest, under Mark Warburton, were quick out of the blocks and intent on causing problems for the visitors and for Assombalonga.

While defensively Middlesbrough restricted the number of efforts on Darren Randolph’s goal, they were still the side who did the attacking for most of the first half.

McKay’s opener in the 16th minute filled them with even greater confidence. The former Rangers man was put in on goal by Kieran Dowell and the winger took a touch before side-footing beyond Randolph.

Despite plenty of possession and energy from Warburton’s side, Middlesbrough then found an extra edge in the closing stages of the first half and they ought to have levelled.

The best chance fell to Assombalonga. He was put through by a lovely pass from Jonny Howson but the striker fluffed his lines by missing the target from inside the box, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Before the break there was still more time for a couple of Boro chances. Goalkeeper Jordan Smith, though, was equal to efforts from both Patrick Bamford and Howson from distance.

The scoreline and pattern of play persuaded Monk to take Adam Forshaw off and replace him with the more unpredictable style of Adama Traore. Within a couple of minutes he had attacked the backline with a couple of runs, even if they came to nothing.

It meant the system Monk prefers had been scrapped, with Traore playing right and effectively becoming a fourth forward. And before the hour Middlesbrough should have been level.

Assombalonga wasted two more fantastic chances. The first was denied by Smith’s feet when he was clear on goal again, while the second was a miss-hit first time effort that went wide at the back post where he was unmarked.

That was basically that. Monk tried hard to get things level by throwing on Ashley Fletcher and Lewis Baker as well as Traore, so Howson was the only centre-midfielder left on the pitch.

Forest looked to have made the game safe when Gibson pulled down Ben Brereton in the area with 11 minutes remaining. Murphy found the bottom left corner of Randolph’s net from the spot.

But Boro kept pressing and pulled one back with seven minutes remaining when Gibson made amends. He powered high into the net through a crowded box to set up a thrilling finale.

Despite plenty of huffing and puffing from the visitors, though, there was to be no late equaliser and Middlesbrough suffered a second defeat in as many away dates.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Smith; Darikwa, Mills, Worrall, Traore (Lichaj 77); Vaughan (Brereton37), Bouchalakis; McKay (Mancienne 65), Osborn, Dowell; Murphy. Subs (not used): Evtimov, Clough, Carayol, Cummings.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-2-3): Randolph; Christie, Fry, Gibson, Friend; Clayton (Fletcher 78); Howson, Forshaw (Traore 46); Bamford (Baker 63), Assombalonga, Gestede. Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Roberts, Fabio, Leadbitter.