A Joe Lolley double and an Alexander Milosevic strike clinched an emphatic 3-0 victory for Nottingham Forest over Middlesbrough at the City Ground.
Sarah Clapson looks at five of the big talking points from the Championship clash as the Reds brought an end to a four-match losing streak in style.
1. Individual brilliance
There’s only one place to start when it comes to assessing Monday’s match - the man with magic in his feet.
Joao Carvalho conjured up a simply stunning individual display, one dripping in class and deserving of a highlights reel in its own right. The whole box of tricks was on show, and Boro were left bamboozled.
He’s always had the ability to change a game, but this time the young Portuguese ran the show almost from minute one to the moment he walked off to a standing ovation. He was at the heart of the majority of Forest’s attacking play.
Joao Carvalho and Joe Lolley thrive thanks to Martin O'Neill's new system for Nottingham Forest for Carvalho, but he did everything possible to persuade his manager there should be many more next season.
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2. Top tactics
That Carvalho had the chance to shine was in part down to the Reds playing in a way which suited him.
The midfielder, along with Joe Lolley, was given the freedom to roam behind front man Karim Ansarifard, while attacking wing-backs Matty Cash and Ben Osborn provided support down either flank.
It was a formation which brought the best out of a number of players, particularly going forward, while the trio of Milosevic, Molla Wague and Jack Robinson also looked comfortable at the back.
O’Neill has set his team up in several different ways during his time in charge - but given its success and the way it appeared tailor-made for some of those on the pitch, this system is surely worth another look.
3. No way through
As brilliant as the hosts were in attack - and they were very impressive at times, particularly in the second half - mention should also go to the defence.
That goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon could have spent the afternoon catching rays from the spring sunshine rather than balls into the box was in no small part down to the work of those in front of him, as well as Middlesbrough’s own shortcomings.
Milosevic, Wague and Robinson were all solid, while Pele and Ryan Yates ahead of them controlled the midfield. Boro never really got a look in, and whenever former Red Britt Assombalonga did threaten to burst through, he was bullied off the ball by someone in a Forest shirt - generally Wague or Milosevic.
Joao Carvalho and Joe Lolley thrive thanks to Martin O'Neill's new system for Nottingham Forest
The latter, especially, did well on his return to the starting line-up after a few weeks out of favour - not least with an excellent effort to get on the scoresheet.
For a defence which has leaked goals in recent games, this was all a welcome change.
4. One swallow…
Does not make a summer, as they say. And while this was undoubtedly the best performance since O’Neill’s appointment, and one of the best of the whole campaign, the Reds need to match that kind of standard more often.
Too many times this term they have lurched from good to bad. Their inconsistency has let them down. It’s why they find themselves outside of the play-offs spots.
They’ve shown what they can do. They’ve shown how good they can be. They’ve set the bar. But now they have to follow that up.
The manager has to set out in a way which best suits the players, and those he picks have to play to their potential.
5. Reasons to be positive
The three points ultimately count for little in terms of Forest’s campaign, with the play-offs now beyond them.
But Monday can still be used as a stepping stone.
The mood among supporters had become very dark on the back of four straight defeats, with the manager copping a fair bit of the flak.
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It may be that some remain unconvinced, but there was a lot to like about this latest display. It offered cause to be hopeful.
If O’Neill’s men can continue in the same vein in the remaining games that would be a boost going into the summer, ahead of what it is hoped will be a big campaign next time around.
