Team news

Bates boost for Boro Middlesbrough captain Matthew Bates should be fit to face Nottingham Forest after recovering from illness.

Bates did not travel for Saturday's clash with Ipswich - a game which was abandoned after 37 minutes due to a frozen pitch.

Fellow defender Stephen McManus was a notable absentee from that squad, although manager Tony Mowbray insists his departure is not imminent despite interest from Championship rivals Bristol City and Ipswich.

Boro recalled forward Marvin Emnes for the Portman Road fixture and he will hope to keep his starting spot against a struggling Reds side.

Marcus Tudgay could return to the Nottingham Forest squad for the trip.

Striker Tudgay missed the 1-1 home draw against Watford because of illness.

Chris Gunter played in an advanced position on the right wing against the Hornets as on-loan defenders Scott Wootton, Danny Higginbotham and George Elokobi all made their debuts on Saturday.

Manager Steve Cotterill was encouraged by Gunter's performance and hinted he may deploy the Wales international in the same role at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough vs Nottm Forest

Last modified 22:07 14/02/12

Boro hold on for big win Strikes from Marvin Emnes and Lukas Jutkiewicz helped 10-man Middlesbrough to their first npower Championship victory of 2012 - 2-1 against struggling Nottingham Forest.

Tony Mowbray's men had fallen out of the play-off positions after a winless run of six league matches stretching back to Boxing Day, but victory over beleaguered Nottingham Forest gave them a vital three points.

Boro largely controlled the tempo of the first-half yet they struggled to create any meaningful chances until Guy Moussi deflected Emnes' shot into his own net just before half-time.

In the 47th minute, Jutkiewicz's left-footed effort put Boro in a strong position to claim their first victory over Forest in seven attempts.

Yet, the visitors narrowed the deficit thanks to Joel Lynch's header and although their cause was further helped when Kevin Thomson was sent off for two bookable offences, Boro just about held on.

Forest's resilience after going two goals down may give some comfort to manager Steve Cotterill, whose side remain five points adrift of safety.

The last seven matches between the two teams on Teesside had finished honours even and there was not much separating the sides in a quiet opening.

The hosts started to enjoy the lion's share of possession as the half progressed but their failure to create anything meaningful nearly came back to haunt them as Garath McCleary's one-two with Marlon Harewood ended with the former blazing over from just inside the area.

The 24-year-old should have done better but Middlesbrough were nearly caught out again as Marlon Harewood's clever backheel to strike partner Ishmael Miller was only just cut out by Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Emnes was a lively presence for Middlesbrough and he picked up Steele's quick goalkick before cutting in from the left and firing narrowly over from just outside the area.

Boro continued to dominate the tempo for the rest of the half and they were rewarded for their endeavour on the stroke of half-time.

Hines' cross-field ball to the left was insufficiently dealt with by Scott Wootton and that allowed Emnes the chance to cut in and his cross-cum-sot deflected off Moussi and past an unfortunate Lee Camp.

Clearly buoyed by their opener, Jutkiewicz doubled their advantage two minutes after the interval.

The former Coventry striker held off the challenge of two Forest defenders before stroking into the bottom right corner of the net from just outside the area to leave Cotterill's men with a mountain to climb.

Boro seemed determined to make Forest pay and Rhys Williams headed wide from Joe Bennett's corner as the hosts remained firmly in the ascendancy.

Against the run of play however, Forest narrowed the deficit in the 66th minute when Andy Reid's free-kick on the right was flicked in at the front post by fellow substitute Joel Lynch.

From out of nowhere, Middlesbrough were forced on to the back foot and their hopes of holding on took a blow when Thomson's challenge on Adlene Guedioura brought about a second yellow card for the midfielder in the 75th minute.