How did the players fare in Middlesbrough's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest?


MIDDLESBROUGH (4-5-1):

6 Bettinelli: Created some late jitters with a weak punch, but immediately made amends by blocking Cafu’s subsequent shot

8 Dijksteel: Hasn’t put a foot wrong all season and looked perfectly comfortable back at right-back rather than in a back three

9 WOOD: Couldn’t have wished for a better performance on his first Championship start – looked perfectly at home at this level

8 McNair: Another excellent defensive display from the Northern Irishman, who also delivered some dangerous dead balls into the box

8 Bola: The most improved player in the Boro squad by a distance this season – won his personal battle with the dangerous Knockaert

7 Tavernier: Troubled the Forest defence with a series of dangerous breaks, although he wasted a great chance by blazing over in the first half

8 Howson: The powerhouse of the Boro team, driving his side forward from the heart of midfield and closing down Forest’s midfielders as soon as they got the ball

4 Morsy: Became embroiled in a series of niggly incidents with Colback and was taken off in the first half before he got himself sent off

7 Saville: Has became a key attacking threat from the heart of midfield – broke forward dangerously, although wasted a good chance by shooting over

7 Coulson: Justified his promotion as he made his first start of the season – got forward effectively down the left-hand side

6 Assombalonga: Should have scored his first goal against Forest as a Boro player, but shot straight at the keeper when clean through in the first half


Subs:

7 Spence (for Morsy, 33): Played as an attacking wide player rather than a full-back and caused problems with his pace and dribbling

5 Akpom (for Assombalonga, 70): Didn’t really have a chance to make an impact in the closing stages, but Warnock will be relieved to have him available again

Johnson (for Coulson, 78)

(not used): Stojanovic (gk), Wing, Browne, Roberts.


NOTTM FOREST (4-2-3-1):

Samba 6; Christie 6, Figueiredo 6, McKenna 6, Bong 6; Colback 5, YATES 6; Knockaert 4, Freeman 5 (Cafu 64, 5), Amoebi 4 (Lolley 46, 4); Guerrero 4 (Taylor 77).

Subs (not used): Smith (gk), Soh, Jenkinson, Sow.


Man Of The Match: NATHAN WOOD – You don’t get many 18-year-old centre-halves playing in the Championship – and you get even fewer who look as composed and accomplished as Boro’s latest academy product.