Preview: Nottingham Forest vs. Middlesbrough

With 11 games of the Championship season to go, Middlesbrough are the new league leaders and next travel to face Dougie Freedman's improved Nottingham Forest.

Aitor Karanka's Boro beat Millwall 3-0 on Tuesday to move one point clear at the summit as nearest rivals Derby County surprisingly went down 2-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion.

By keeping their 16th clean sheet of the season, Boro improved their league-best defensive record and they now have conceded just 24 goals in 35 games - 10 fewer than the next-best backline.

Karanka can perhaps view Boro's position at the top as rather fortunate considering that they have won just two of their last five in the league, with others like Derby, Bournemouth and Ipswich Town also faltering of late.

There are no new injury concerns for Karanka, but Daniel Ayala is nearing a return to full fitness. The Spanish defender is hoping to return for the crucial upcoming stretch against Ipswich, Derby and Bournemouth, but won't feature against Forest.

The hosts, meanwhile, enter the match after suffering their first defeat under the management of Dougie Freedman.

Having won five of his first six games in charge and losing none to earn a February Manager of the Month nomination, Freedman's side got off to a sticky start in March by suffering a 2-1 defeat at another improving outfit, Charlton Athletic.

Forest are ninth in the table and defeat at The Valley saw their outside chances of reaching the playoffs take a hit as now 11 points separate them from the top six.

In Henri Lansbury, they have one of the league's most in-form players and his five goals in five consecutive games in February have seen him put up for the division's Player of the Month.

The former Arsenal man has also scored in each of his last three games at the City Ground.

Boro are unbeaten in six games against Forest, winning the reverse 3-0 at the Riverside on Boxing Day.

Forest:

Recent form: WDWWWL

Possible starting lineup: Darlow; Lichaj, Lascelles, Collins, Fox; Burke, Gardner, Osborn, Lansbury, Antonio; Fryatt

Boro:

Form in Championship: WDLWLW Form in all competitions: LDLWLW

Possible starting lineup: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Kalas, Gibson, Friend; Bamford, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah; Tomlin; Kike

Sports Mole says: 1-1