Nottingham Forest finish the day in second place courtesy of a second-half goal, which was all that separated the two sides.

It was an evenly matched first half and with both sides defending well, chances were few and far between.

The second half started with both sides giving the ball away too frequently but Forest finally won the battle to produce a goal and did well to hold on to take the three points.

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It was a lively start to the game with the visitors settling well, playing some good, passing football on the ground.

And they looked dangerous on the break when Willo Flood made a good run forward, but he was challenged well in the D by Kelvin Wilson.

Forest also looked lively and Radoslaw Majewski came close when his long-range effort whistled past the far post.

And he came close again from a free kick after a foul by David Wheater on Robert Earnshaw. Majewski's effort from 25 yards out clipped the crossbar before it went over, as Danny Coyne scrambled to get there in case the ball was headed in.

Middlesbrough threatened the Forest goal, winning a number of corners in quick succession, but the only shot they managed on target was a weak one by Scott McDonald, straight into the arms of Lee Camp.

A terrific burst of speed by Paul Anderson gave Forest a quick break. He did well to get the cross in under pressure but Earnshaw couldn't quite get on the end of the ball before it was cleared.

A good ball forward from Chris Cohen gave Forest a half chance when Earnshaw got on the end of the ball and, getting between two Middlesbrough defenders, managed to get a shot in but it went over the crossbar.

With the ball being won and lost in midfield by both sides, there were few chances for either team as the first half drew to a close.

The second half started in similar fashion and there was a lack of atmosphere for the first ten minutes until the home crowd started to get behind their team.

It was 18 minutes before Forest had any sort of chance from a Cohen free kick. The ball came back out to Cohen whose second effort was off target.

Kelvin Wilson and most of the City Ground thought he had scored his first goal of the season when Majewski's effort took a deflection into the path of the Forest defender who found the target, but the offside flag was up.

But Forest were in the lead soon after when Wilson won the ball and fed it through to Blackstock, who chested it on to Majewski. He crossed it back to Blackstock whose side-foot pass to Cohen gave him all the time in the world to compose himself in the centre of the penalty box and send the ball confidently past Coyne.

Middlesbrough came close to an equalizer when substitute Leroy Lita sent the ball flying towards goal from 20 yards out, but James Perch just managed to get enough on it to deflect the ball out for a corner.

Middlesbrough won a free kick, in a dangerous position to the left of the D, for a clumsy challenge by substitute Guy Moussi on Barry Robson but the ball went off the wall and out for a corner.

There were cries for a penalty after Anderson had made a superb run down the pitch and into the box, but he had already lost control of the ball before he went down.

Middlesbrough kept pushing forward, making for a tense four minutes stoppage time and when they won a corner even goalkeeper Coyne ran up to join the other 21 players inside the box.

But the ball was finally cleared and the referee's whistle went to cheers of delight and relief.

Nottingham Forest: Camp, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter, Perch, Cohen, McKenna (C), Anderson(Adebola 89min), Majewski(Moussi 81min), Earnshaw(McGoldrick 75min), Blackstock
Subs not used: Smith, Chambers, Garner, McGugan
Bookings: Majewski 38min, Perch 50min, Blackstock 88min
Scorer: Cohen 72min

Middlesbrough: Coyne, Naughton, Wheater, McManus, Pogatetz, Flood, O'Neil (C), Robson, Arca(Franks 80min), Aliadiere(Lita 67min) McDonald
Subs not used: Steele(GK), Hoyte, Miller, Grounds,Taylor
Bookings:O'Neil 78min
Referee: P T Crossley
Attendance: 25,498 Away attn: 1,941