Kieran Dowell set up Nottingham Forest’s opener as his loan side made it three wins from four Championship matches by beating Middlesbrough at the City Ground.
Barrie McKay latched on to Dowell’s through ball in the 16th minute to slot past goalkeeper Darren Randolph, before a Daryl Murphy penalty 11 minutes from time put Forest in control.
Ben Gibson stabbed in from a corner to pull one back for Boro on 83 minutes but the hosts held on to move up to fourth in the table.
Dowell, who was making his fifth appearance for Mark Warburton’s side, played the full 90 minutes.