Middlesbrough suffered a first defeat in three games with a narrow 2-1 reversal at Nottingham Forest.
The hosts were ahead through Barrie McKay on sixteen minutes, but it wasn’t until late on that Daryl Murphy added a second from the penalty spot.
Defender Ben Gibson then replied from a corner to at least offer the visitors renewed hope with seven minutes remaining.
Goalkeeper Darren Randolph wasn’t especially troubled by Joe Worrall’s opening effort while opposite number Jordan Smith reacted from Rudy Gestede.
But the breakthrough soon arrived as McKay chased down the centre and drove a low finish beyond Randolph.
Boro came under further pressure until former Forest striker Britt Assombalonga shot wide from Jonny Howson’s through ball.
Patrick Bamford then forced keeper Smith to parry from the edge of the area prior to the break, while Assombalonga twice missed following the restart.
However, as the contest approached its final ten minutes, Gibson fouled substitute Ben Brereton inside the area and Murphy slotted in the penalty.
The visitors soon responded as Gibson struck from a corner, before Gestede headed wide and Assombalonga netted but from an offside position.
Nottingham Forest: Smith, Darikwa, Worrall, Mills, Traore (Lichaj 77), Bouchalakis, Vaughan (Brereton 37), McKay (Mancienne 66), Dowell, Osborn, Murphy
subs (unused): Clough, Carayol, Evtimov, Cummings
Goals: McKay (16), Murphy (pen 79)
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Christie, Fry, Gibson, Friend, Howson, Clayton (Fletcher 77), Forshaw (Traore 46), Bamford (Baker 62), Assombalonga, Gestede
subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Fabio, Leadbitter, Roberts
Goals: Gibson (83)
Ref: G. Scott
Att: 26,265
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