Karanka’s crackers in smash and Grabb raid
AITOR KARANKA’S resurgent Forest are storming up the Championship – as Tony Pulis called Boro “a bag of potatoes”.
The Spaniard got Boro promoted but was axed during a miserable Premier League campaign.
Now he is inspiring Forest who have lost only once all season and became promotion contenders after banking their first away win.
Goals from Joe Lolley and Lewis Grabban claimed the points, despite Jack Robinson seeing red late on.
Boro missed chances, and the chance to go top, conceding for the first time in
499 minutes at home in the league.
They were jeered off and slipped to fourth with Forest a place behind.
Karanka said: “I’m really pleased. We have improved a lot. It is a step forward.
“It is not more special a victory because I was manager here, because this club is always special for me. We are growing as a team.”
Boro boss Pulis said: “We started really poorly. We were like a bag of potatoes. Sloppy and on the back foot. We never got going.
“It was a dreadful goal to concede. We’re not like that.
“We’ve had 36 crosses and not had many opportunities. No one saw that performance coming.”
Boro had five clean sheets at home in the league this season until Lolley struck.
It was a special goal, the sort needed to break down such a mean defence.
Daryl Murphy broke and slipped the ball left to Lolley who popped home from an angle 25 yards out.
Britt Assombalonga was through on goal on the hour mark but had a weak shot saved and Pulis said: “That was the big turning point.
“Score then and it’s a different atmosphere.”
Instead Lolley created Forest’s second after being slipped inside Ryan Shotton by Ben Watson’s probing ball.
The former England C international whipped over a great cross and sub Lewis Grabban smashed in from close range at the near post.
Robinson was sent off with
10 minutes to go after picking up a second yellow card for diving in Boro’s box.