TIME may not be running out on Jonathan Woodgate as Middlesbrough’s head coach, but the clock is certainly ticking on the club’s stay in the Championship after a frustrating ending to Nottingham Forest’s visit to Teesside.

After a day when Steve Gibson, the Boro chairman, assured supporters that Woodgate’s job is safe whatever happens, both men looked on as another improved display came within four minutes of ending a winless run that has extended to ten matches in the league.

But Nottingham Forest’s 86th minute equaliser arrived during a tense finish in controversial circumstances too, with former Sunderland loan man Lewis Grabban flicking over the line with his back to goal when goalkeeper Aynsley Pears and his Boro team-mates claimed a foul.

Even though Middlesbrough didn’t lose, it prevented a first win since New Year’s Day which would have lifted Woodgate’s side up to 19th. Instead they remain in the bottom three ahead of Saturday’s trip to Charlton.

The Middlesbrough boss must have been satisfied with the way his team responded to falling behind in the 28th minute when Ryan Yates was given too much freedom to beat Pears from distance.

After Rudy Gestede ended his own two-year wait for a goal at the Riverside five minutes before half-time, Lewis Wing put Middlesbrough ahead four minutes later after a lightening counter-attack.

At that point Middlesbrough, who had scored for the first time in more than five and a half hours of play, were playing well and looking confident, but Forest stepped things up in the closing stages to level with the minutes ticking by.

Woodgate was well aware of the importance of his players delivering a performance like the one that had improvements against Leeds with the added magical ingredient of scoring a goal – having dropped into the bottom three without playing over the weekend.

He couldn’t call on Britt Assombalonga, struck down by illness, in the absence of the injured Ashley Fletcher, so it was down to Gestede to lead the line and he did that well.

His nod down helped earn a free-kick which Lewis Wing struck the wall with and moments later the midfielder’s effort from 20 yards rolled into the arms of Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba.

That was as near as either side came to scoring in that opening period, even though Forest did see plenty of the ball initially without really getting in behind the home defence. Middlesbrough were also guilty of giving possession away too cheaply at times, which frustrated the crowd.

It was down the Middlesbrough right were the opener came from. A throw-in was followed by Alfa Semedo and Ameobi linking up, with the latter’s pass to Yates being allowed to run before he struck a sweet finish inside Pears’ bottom right hand corner. It came from nothing but it was worrying how easy it was.

Middlesbrough needed a reaction and they got one. Hayden Coulson and Wing had already gone close with efforts from outside the area before the two late goals turned things around before the half-time whistle.

With five minutes remaining of the half, McNair’s deep free-kick was headed back across goal and into the six yard box by Harold Moukoudi. It was perfect for Gestede, who leaped high above his marker, to head down from under the bar to level.

The Benin international had been involved in plenty in the final third, just what Woodgate had wanted from him, and the sight of him finding the net at the Riverside for the first time since February 2018 sparked celebrations in the dug-out and among the fans.

It provided the lift to his team-mates too as Middlesbrough edged ahead with a minute remaining of the first half – and it stemmed from an unsuccessful Forest attack.

After Pears had come to gather a ball into his area, the County Durham shot-stopper threw long to Coulson on the right flank. The winger cut inside and shaped to shoot, but he rolled a pass to Wing instead.

The former non-league midfielder was faced with just the keeper to beat and Samba, despite getting a hand to it as he dived to his right, could only help the ball bounce over the line to put Middlesbrough ahead.

Middlesbrough played some even better stuff after the break, with players wanting to get on the ball, but there was a lack of efforts to worry Samba and that meant Forest stayed in it.

As the minutes ticked by in the second half, there was an increase in nerves among the Middlesbrough fans and Forest started to push on more in search of an equaliser of their own. Neither side was able to create chances easily though.

Tobias Figueirido should have done better with a free header he directed over the bar, while former Sunderland loan man Grabban side-footed wide from close range after a dangerous delivery towards Pears’ six-yard box.

And with four minutes remaining Grabban did find the net, despite the strong calls for a foul from the home side. When Joe Lolley’s volley from outside the area was deflected high into the area, Grabban protected the ball from Pears with his back and left arm before flicking his 17th goal of the season over the line.

It was a clever finish but a controversial one that, in the end, would have been harsh had referee Darren England ruled it out. Middlesbrough, who had to survive another late scare, had to settle for a point that keeps them in the bottom three, a point shy of Stoke City.