Middlesbrough 1-0 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 31.10.20

Nottingham Forest were beaten by a late goal after a disappointing performance at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon.

Chris Hughton made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Luton Town on Wednesday night, one forced as Gaeteng Bong returned in place of the suspended Nicholas Ioannou whilst Miguel Guerrero got the nod in front of Lyle Taylor in attack with Luke Freeman coming in for Joe Lolley.

Middlesbrough started the better of the two sides as former Red Britt Assombalonga blazed over following a sixth minute corner that fell to him at the back post. Yates tried his luck from long range but without troubling the Boro goalkeeper on 14 before Samba saved well at the other end from Coulson as the home side looked to take the lead.

Neil Warnock’s side missed a golden opportunity to hit the front when a bad Yates pass was intercepted by Assombalonga who saw his effort saved by Samba before Tavernier blasted over the rebound when it looked easier to score.

Joe Lolley came on for Sammy Ameobi at the break but Forest struggled to impose themselves on the home sides defence, as the game began to look like a drab scoreless encounter which Hughton and team would certainly have settled for, things took a turn for the worse for Forest with just nine minutes remaining as a cross into the box found Marvin Johnson who volleyed past Samba for the all-important winning goal.

The result boosts Boro’s early playoff chances whilst for Forest it is a time to start looking over their shoulder as form is worryingly bad, the Reds are now level on points with 22^nd placed Derby County in the third and final relegation place on six points from their nine games played and are now already nine points outside the playoffs.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli, Dijksteel, Wood, McNair, Bola, Howson, Morsy (Spence 34), Saville, Tavernier, Assombalonga (Akpom 70), Coulson (Johnson 77).

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Christie, Figueiredo, McKenna, Bong, Yates, Colback, Knockaert, Freeman (Cafu 64), Ameobi (Lolley 46), Guerrero (Taylor 78).

Venue: Riverside Stadium

*Main image @NFFC Jack Colback in action against Middlesbrough.