JONATHAN WOODGATE was left angry with referee Darren England’s decision to allow Lewis Grabban’s late equaliser for Nottingham Forest to stand as Middlesbrough’s relegation fight suffered a late blow.

The Boro boss is determined to repay Steve Gibson’s faith in him by preventing a fall into League One, knowing that the chairman has outlined a plan to stick with the rookie boss whatever happens this season.

And those words of confidence from the boardroom were almost backed up by a much-needed victory over promotion chasers Nottingham Forest, who snatched a point late on courtesy of a controversial, albeit clever, Grabban effort.

With four minutes remaining, the former Sunderland loan man flicked a finish beyond goalkeeper Aysnley Pears, who could not get to the ball because the front-man used his body to full effect in the six yard area to get to Joe Lolley’s deflected effort.

That meant Middlesbrough have now gone ten league games without a win and they remain a point shy of Stoke City, who hover just above the relegation zone, ahead of this Saturday’s trip to Charlton.

“Nine out of ten times that goal doesn’t count so I thought it was a bad decision from the referee,” said Woodgate. “If you look at any contact on the goalkeeper it’s given.

“He backs in, he looked where he was and he put his arm across his chest, he didn’t get nowhere near it, it was a foul in my view and in 19,000 people’s eyes it’s a foul.

“You look this season how many decisions get given when a forward backs into a goalkeeper, it always gets given. Nine out of ten times it gets given.”

While the boos aimed at England after the final whistle suggested the supporters agreed with Woodgate’s assertion, Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi disagreed.

Sabri Lamouchi said: “No foul, easily. I saw the replay just now, this was not a foul. Grabban doesn’t touch the keeper. He was not offside. For me it was not a foul. And we deserved to score anyway. I am happy with the points. Happy for him, probably a nice finish.”

There is an argument that Pears, who was outstanding against Leeds United last week, could have been stronger, but Woodgate was also thankful to his young keeper’s influence in getting Middlesbrough ahead in the first place.

After Rudy Gestede’s second goal of the season had cancelled out Ryan Yates’ 28th minute opener five minutes before half-time, Pears’ strong catch and throw to Hayden Coulson a minute before the break created the opening for Lewis Wing to put Middlesbrough ahead.

Woodgate said: “He set the second goal up. By an outstanding catch, by an unbelievable throw on a six pence for Hayden. I thought it was a bad decision by the referee. Don’t get me wrong it’s a very good finish but … a bit of consistency.

“Brilliant, that’s what I want to see my players doing but again Hayden was the outstanding player on the pitch for both teams. I’d say that for Leeds as well he was the outstanding player on the pitch.”

Despite two encouraging displays against promotion contenders, Middlesbrough remain in the relegation zone with ten matches to go.

Woodgate said: “Well we are there, the table says it at the minute. That could be an important point for us, that could be a really important point for us going forward.

“No one likes a team to draw level with you in the 87th minute but that could be a big point for us and the players are showing that they are working as hard as they can.

“At times they need a bit more quality at the top end of the pitch but I thought it was a good performance from the team.

“We showed character and determination from every single player to get on the ball, even if it’s tough, get on the ball and try and make things happen.

“We went down to 1-0 and it’s tough but your players bounce back and I thought we deserved to win the game.”

Middlesbrough are focused on staying up, but Woodgate has been assured he will stay in the job regardless this season.

Speaking before the game, Gibson said: “Jonathan has my full support. Jonathan is not the problem. He is the figurehead of the club and has had to take a lot of criticism for problems which he inherited.

“I can assure fans we are working very hard as a club to deal with those problems. Jonathan has my support no matter what happens. My total support.

“He is dedicated to this football club and has a vision for a style and approach that we all endorse. He has had a difficult first season but there is a real talent there. I am convinced of that. Where we are right now as a club is not the fault of Jonathan Woodgate.”

And after hearing about Gibson's comments, Woodgate responded: “Unbelievable, I’m lucky to have a chairman as good as him.

“A lot of managers in this league don’t even know the chairman, have never met them before in their life. I’ve got a chairman who is standing by his manager and that’s fantastic.

“He has been absolutely huge and he realises it’s difficult and it is tough with the players we’ve lost in different transfer windows. Don’t get me wrong we should be doing better than what we are there’s no getting away from that.”