Martin O’Neill’s Nottingham Forest saved arguably their best performance of the season for their penultimate City Ground date of a frustrating campaign.
The Reds battered Middlesbrough from beginning to end, winning 3-0 and producing a scoreline which, if anything, flattered Tony Pulis’ men.
And Boro’s chief tormenter throughout the afternoon was Portuguese sensation Joao Carvalho.
Forest’s record signing has struggled to make an impact under O’Neill, with Easter Monday being just his second start, but he certainly staked his claim for another outing at QPR on Saturday with a mesmeric display, which saw him receive a fully deserved standing ovation when he departed the City Ground pitch two minutes from time.
Carvalho was instrumental in Forest’s fine attacking play, his movement and vision proving to be a constant problem for Boro’s beleaguered defenders, and he almost had himself a deserved goal but for a lick of paint on the Trent End post.
Joao Carvalho had 'magic in his feet' as Nottingham Forest destroyed Middlesbrough
So high was his confidence, he first nutmegged ex-Manchester United man Paddy McNair, then glided past Pinxton-born Aden Flint leaving him flat on his backside before rolling a tantalising pass across the box for Joe Lolley to crash in Forest’s third, as you can see in the video below, which has got Forest supporters purring on social media.
Why Sam Byram was not in Nottingham Forest's squad against Middlesbrough
