Big Match Review - Boro 1 Forest 1

Championship

Middlesbrough 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Saturday November 21, Riverside (Att: 22,710)

Rob Earnshaw bagged a second half equaliser to deny Gordon Strachan his first win as Boro boss and keep Forest's unbeaten away record this season intact.

The home side got off to a flying start and had taken the lead within the first five minutes. After a strong run down the left, Adam Johnson pulled the ball across for Julio Acra to shoot.

Forest keeper Lee Camp could only parry the shot and Leroy Lita, who had had a half chance minutes earlier, was on hand to turn in the rebound for the club's first goal under their new manager.

Billy Davies's side responded and Boro keeper Brad Jones was called into action to save from Guy Moussi and then one-on-one with David McGoldrick as the away side pushed their opponents back.

In the second half Jones had to be at at full stretch again as he turned away Joe Garner's low drive wide of the post for a corner.

However, the Australian could do nothing about Forest's equaliser with less than twenty minutes remaining. Substitute Rob Earnshaw curling a 22-yard free kick up and around the Boro wall and into the net.

Forest pressed for a winner but both play-off chasers were forced to settle for a point as Strachan got off the mark on Teesside and the visitors returned home nine games unbeaten on the road.