EARNIE RESCUE MAKES STRACH AGONY WORSE

A STUNNING free-kick by Robert Earnshaw shattered Gordon Strachan's hopes of celebrating his first victory as Middlesbrough boss.

The Wales international struck with 18 minutes left, after coming on as a sub just a quarter of an hour earlier.

His goal maintained Forest's proud, eight-month unbeaten away league run.

But his manager, Billy Davies, had needed to give his players a blasting after they gifted Boro a half-time lead through Leroy Lita.

Strachan declared: "It does not look like we have made much progress since I got here.

"It has not been a great three weeks - not great for me, the players or the fans.

"People are unhappy right now and I understand that.

"Every job is a big challenge. I did not think that this was going to be easy, as I am not a silly man.

"I'd be a strange manager if I wasn't thinking about the January transfer window.

"In fact, I'd be the only manager in Britain if I wasn't already thinking about that.

"You're always planning six months for the year ahead.

"We need to find a formula that makes more of a goal threat but I just can't put my finger on that yet.

"That was the worst we have played since I got here.

"The first two games I thought we should have won but the more likely team to win this was Forest.

"We started to panic, though that's what happens when you do not have a good home record."

Great start

Strachan's search for much-needed goals saw him sign Stoke striker Dave Kitson on loan to link up again with his old team-mate Lita.

And the duo whose goals fired Reading into the Premier League four seasons ago needed less than five minutes to get back into the groove.

Adam Johnson broke down the left and found Julio Arca, whose shot from 20 yards was a touch too hot for Forest keeper Lee Camp.

Camp could only palm the ball straight to Lita, who sidefooted home his first goal in six games.

Boro's Emanuel Pogatetz, already wearing a face mask to protect his fractured cheekbone, was soon in the wars again.

The left-back needed his forehead bandaged after a clash that left blood streaming down his face.

Forest had hardly been in the game in the first half, with their only effort a Guy Moussi shot which was easily saved by Brad Jones.

But the keeper came to his side's rescue in injury-time, after Dele Adebola carved open the home rearguard.

Adebola cleverly fed David McGoldrick, who could only shoot straight at the onrushing Jones.

The visitors had furious appeals for a penalty turned down soon after the interval, when Joe Garner's goalbound shot was blocked by Pogatetz.

Garner was then again denied by the fingertips of Jones, who also thwarted Paul Anderson with a brave save in what was a vital performance for Strachan's men.

Pivotal moment

But Jones was helpless as Forest deservedly levelled to maintain their record as the only side in all four divisions yet to lose away this season.

Earnshaw curled a superb free-kick into the bottom corner, after Lita had handled 20 yards out.

Forest chief Davies admitted: "That first half was the worst we have played all season and I was very angry with the players.

"I had to give them a few choice words and in the second half we came out and showed them what we are about.

"We are very proud of the unbeaten away run we are on but in those first 45 minutes we were their best player.

"We were complacent and had no zip or pace about us.

"It looked like one or two of them had just decided to take their foot off the gas.

"We kept giving the ball to them. That's how their goal came about.

"Apart from that, our keeper did not have a save to make, which makes it very disappointing.

"I would agree with the assessment by Gordon. We deserved to win.

"But we are a young team and still learning.

"With the size of the squad they've got, I'd still say we have to finish above them if we want to be in the top six at the end of the season."

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