ON the first anniversary of Gordon Strachan's departure, Middlesbrough should have known a thing or two about what a new manager can do for a deflated team.

Twelve months to the day since Strachan vacated his post with his team languishing 20th in the Championship and lacking direction, promotion-hunting Boro were left to reflect on the night when things started to improve for Nottingham Forest.

Under the new management of former Sunderland coach Steve Cotterill following the resignation of Steve McClaren, Forest climbed out of the bottom three with a comfortable win.

A goal in each half from Marcus Tudgay and Lewis McGugan brought a sorry end to Middlesbrough's unbeaten run after the Teessiders turned in their worst display of the season so far.

First the positive. Boro remain third despite the defeat and attentions quickly turn to fourth-placed Derby County this Saturday when Tony Mowbray must try to address a run of five matches without a win.

To do that he will be looking for defensive improvement from last night and he will hope that striker Marvin Emnes can recapture the scoring touch which earned him the crown of player of the month for August.

For Forest there was an air of uncertainty hanging around the City Ground, with owner Nigel Doughty enlisting the help of the investment bankers familiar with Newcastle, Seymour Pierce, to effectively put the club on the market.

Boro have still only lost once in the league since April. A change of boss signalled a dramatic turnaround at the Riverside in the last year, with Middlesbrough looking at the Premier League again rather than avoiding life in League One.

And last night Mowbray had no hesitation in turning to three of those acquired by his predecessor once more, with Stephen McManus' return to the defence a crucial move.

McManus' experience alongside Seb Hines and Tony McMahon in the absence of both Matthew Bates and Rhys Williams - who both picked up strains in the weekend draw with Millwall - was always going to be a key factor in trying to keep the club's first clean sheet against Forest in 55 years.

There was a nervous start from Hines, who was relieved to see Tudgay direct his shot wide after allowing the striker to nip in and take the ball from him early on.

After that there was very little threat posed to either goalkeeper in the opening half.

That was mainly down to problems both sets of players had in retaining possession.

Boro's biggest concern was they looked for the long ball far too often, with many of their attempted cross-field passes from a number of players failing to find their target.

It was a situation which only worsened as the half wore on, with Mowbray becoming animated on the bench as even the simple passes started to go astray.

Forest, who had dropped into the bottom three after losing six of their previous seven matches, had looked more comfortable, but Jason Steele had been largely untroubled.

The goalkeeper Steele could not be faulted for the opening goal either, when the reshuffled defence failed to allowed Forest the space to create Tudgay with the chance to find the net in the 35th minute.

Boro lost possession, Forest quickly went on the counter-attack. McGugan, the match-winner 12 months ago, drove a terrific pass down the line in behind a static Joe Bennett.

Chris Gunter, playing right wing, played an equally impressive first time cross to the edge of the six yard box and Tudgay ran in to apply the low finish that was just about deserved.

It was only the second goal Boro had conceded away from home all season, but the composure and confidence that had been evident throughout their unbeaten start had been lacking.

They would have been two behind as well had Miller been able to glance Luke Chambers' volley on target from a similar area moments later. Instead Miller could only flick his effort up over the bar.

Mowbray trudged off like a manager knowing something had to change and he swiftly brought on a second striker, Alex Nimely, for Bennett and scrapped the wing-back system.

It almost brought immediate rewards. Robson's free-kick from deep inside the Forest half floated invitingly to the back post and Hines's diving header shaved the side netting.

That proved costly. Forest quickly regained the confidence that got them ahead in the first half and Miller had two bites at Steele's goal before McGugan made sure.

The powerful midfielder, who lost his way under McClaren, turned and struck a terrific right foot drive from 20-yards into the goalkeeper's bottom right corner.

Even at two goals down Mowbray opted to bring on two midfielders, Julio Arca and Malaury Martin, rather than introduce Scott McDonald, left out after Saturday's performance, as a third striker.

It took Boro until the last ten minutes to record a shot on target, with Hoyte forcing goalkeeper Lee Camp in to a save at his near post when the defender looked like scoring.

But, bearing in mind Wes Morgan should have turned a free header beyond Steele shortly beforehand, Forest never looked like relinquishing their lead.

MATCHFACTS

Goals: Tudgay (35, 1-0); McGugan (55, 2-0)

Bookings: Gunter (61, dissent); Robson (61, dissent); Martin (65, foul)

Referee: Kevin Wright (Peterborough) 6

Attendance: 20,630

Entertainment: 3/5

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-4-2): Camp 6; Chambers 7, Lynch 7, Morgan 7, Hill 7; Gunter 7, McGUGAN 8 (Greening 80), Moussi 7, Majewski 7 (Derbyshire 84); Tudgay 7, Miller 6 (Findley 75). Subs (not used): Reid, Smith (gk).

MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-1-1): Steele 5; McMahon 5, Hines 4, McManus 5; Hoyte 5, Haroun 4 (Martin 61, 5), Bailey 5 (Arca 61, 5), Thomson 5, Bennett 4 (Nimely 46, 5); ROBSON 6, Emnes 5. Subs (not used): McDonald, Coyne (gk).

MAN OF THE MATCH

LEWIS McGugan - won it for Forest last year and was the architect of a victory 12 months later.