STRIKES from Marvin Emnes and Lukas Jutkiewicz helped ten-man Middlesbrough to record their first Championship victory of 2012.

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 the Boro bar 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.