NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 McKay (16), Murphy (79, pen) MIDDLESBROUGH 1 Gibson (83)
DARYL MURPHY netted his third goal of the season to help Forest claim a win over Boro, as the man he had replaced fluffed his lines on his return to the City Ground.
The Reds had taken the lead with a fine team goal finished by Barrie McKay in the 16th minute, before Murphy netted from the spot in the 80th.
Ben Gibson gave Boro hope in the 83rd minute, but Garry Monk’s side would have returned north with more than that, had Britt Assombalonga not failed to convert three glorious chances against his former club.
Instead it was Mark Warburton’s side who were able to celebrate a return to winning ways, in front of a packed City Ground that rubbed salt in Assombalong a’s wounds as he trudged off at the final whistle.
A Ben Osborn cross should have been the catalyst for an early goal for Joe Worrall, but the Forest defender sent his downward header right at Darren Randolph.
K ieran Dowell had shown his quality once, with a dipping shot and the on-loan Everton man demonstrated his class again, when he laid on a 16th-minute goal.
His first touch and turn split the Boro defence, before he slotted a precise ball into the path of McKay, who fired beyond Randolph.
Jonny Howson flashed a low shot wide, but it was Forest who continued to threaten, with Dael Fry producing a challenge to stop Murphy.
Forest lost David Vaughan to injury, but his replacement Ben Brereton was inches away from winning a penalty when he was brought down on the edge of the box by Adam Clayton.
Assombalonga had the opportunity to silence the boos, but fired wide with only Jordan Smith to
beat. The Forest keeper then denied another former Forest man, Patrick Bamford. Adama Traore came on for Boro at halftime, and he was lively, with Worrall producing a last- gasp challenge to deny him in the box.
Assombalonga then had two golden chances, but saw Smith make a fine save at his feet, before firing badly wide.
Brereton was a key figure as Forest doubled their advantage, with ref Graham Scott pointing to the spot after Gibson had grappled him to the floor.
Murphy was the calmest man in the City Ground, as he swept a penalty into the bottom corner. But Forest’ s nerves were tested in the 83rd minute when Boro pulled one back.
A corner was half cleared and, when Fry sent the ball back in, Gibson swept home.