It would be fair to say the appointment of Dougie Freedman to replace Stuart Pearce as manager was not greeted particularly enthusiastically by Nottingham Forest supporters. Eight games later, six of which have been won and only one lost, all is sweetness and light at the City Ground, and though the Reds are still nine points adrift of a play-off place, with ten games remaining, promotion is not yet an entirely lost cause.
In some respects, this was the most impressive result Freedman has produced. Forest, described by Freedman as looking jaded in going down to a 2-1 defeat at Charlton on Tuesday, were often outplayed by Middlesbrough but held their nerve impressively after unluckily going behind to an own-goal.
A classy curler from distance from Gary Gardner and a well-made and equally well-taken goal by Dexter Blackstock gave them victory that, if not conclusively deserved on the balance of play, was testament to the spirit Freedman has brought to the club.
“It was a superhuman effort,” said Freedman. “We came back from a setback during the week, and then from conceding a freakish own-goal against the side I believe will win the division. As a coach it’s very encouraging to know we can come back from setbacks.
“History tells you one or two teams will fall away, drop back, and we need to be there to take advantage if they do. Expectations are huge, especially at clubs which have spent a lot of money.
“I think we probably have to win every single game, but whatever happens, to take momentum into next season would make life a hell of a lot easier.”
Freedman had defended his rotation selection policy in the run-up to the game on the grounds of keeping his players fresh, regardless of the result in the previous match, while Aitor Karanka named an unchanged Middlesbrough line-up.
Freedman, in contrast, made four changes, but Michail Antonio kept his place and the winger nearly added to the 12 goals he has scored this season in the fifth minute, with a deflected shot that required the Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos to push it behind for a corner.
The visitors were producing some dangerous crosses, though, and from one from the right by Grant Leadbitter after 26 minutes they took the lead.
There was a large element of fortune about it, as Leadbitter’s delivery, too high for the waiting forwards, deceived the Forest goalkeeper Karl Darlow, hit the inside of the far post and hit the defender Michael Mancienne before dropping over the line.
It took Forest barely six minutes to equalise. Gardner picked up the ball around 25 yards from goal and the midfielder, on loan from Aston Villa, showed a measure of Premier League class in curling the ball right-footed beyond Konstantopoulos.
Boro continued to look the more accomplished side in the second half but Antonio was always a threat. Forest broke, and having beaten Tomas Kalas, the winger rolled the ball across for Blackstock to control, turn and shoot past Konstantopoulos.
Middlesbrough piled on the pressure in the final 20 minutes, but while they created chances, Kike wasted the best, side-footing against the outside of the post.
“I’m very disappointed, we knew we were playing against a good team on a good run, but we did the difficult thing, scored the first goal,” said Karanka.
“But after that we started to defend deeper, and I don’t know why. We need to have more personality. We have ten games to go. If you want to reach something, you have to play under pressure, and it is about managing that pressure.“
