CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Nottm Forest v Middlesbrough 24/08/96 3.00

Nottm Forest            (0) 1 Middlesbrough           (0) 1 FT
Pearce 68                     Juninho 49

Stuart Pearce rescued Forest with a brilliant free-kick strike that will warm the heart of England coach Glenn Hoddle as he prepares for the World Cup opener in Moldova.

The Forest skipper, who renounced his decision to quit the international scene after an appeal from the new England chief, saved his side from their second successive home defeat in spectacular fashion after an equally wonderful effort from Brazilian Juninho had looked like giving Middlesbrough the spoils.

And Boro's woe at being pegged back was heightened when skipper Nigel Pearson was sent off for his second bookable offence in injury time at the end of an explosive second half.

Yet the expectation of another healthy City Ground crowd hardly looked like being realised in a disappointing first period in which both defences ruled the roost.

Forest did most of the pressing as they looked to reward their fans for staying loyal after the midweek home drubbing by Sunderland.

But with Dean Saunders looking as though he had left his shooting boots in Turkey, there seemed no way through.

The Welsh international striker, still looking for his first goal in Forest colours since his £1.5million move from Galatasaray, wasted the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when he broke Boro's offside trap only to fire weakly at goalkeeper Alan Miller.

Boro seemed content to accept the pressure but, on their sporadic breaks forward, always looked a threat.

Fabrizio Ravanelli, a hat-trick hero on his debut last week, was left to plough a lone furrow up front but still produced his usual diet of verve and vigour.

But the visitors could only muster one effort on goal in the whole half, Juninho firing into the side-netting after excellent link play between Ravanelli and Nicky Barmby.

Indeed, the biggest cheer of the first period came when referee Mike Riley was left in a heap when he collided with Alfie Haaland much to the amusement of both sets of supporters.

But there was little wrong with Boro's ambition as they came out at the start of the second period as their midfield Brazilian blend combined to devastating effect.

Emerson's powerful run from halfway left Chris Bart-Williams in his slipstream and he then squared the ball for his compatriot to curl a glorious 25-yard shot high past Mark Crossley.

Forest responded with their most sustained period of pressure so far, but they were constantly worried on the counter by the speed of Juninho, Ravanelli and Barmby.

Juninho should have done better than shoot into the side-netting from a difficult angle with both the Englishman and Italian free in the middle, while Ravanelli brought a fine save from Crossley with a whipped drive that skidded towards the bottom corner.

Most of Forest's joy was coming from the inswinging free-kicks and corners with which they peppered Miller's goal.

And it was no surprise when the home team found a way through from that source with 21 minutes remaining thanks to Pearce.

The England full-back gave Miller no chance with a trademark free-kick from wide on the right that rocketed into the top corner and sent the home fans wild.

Both teams, sensing that the three points were in the balance, went for the win as the game seesawed from end to end.

Ravanelli twice brought Crossley into action as the Forest keeper marked his 141st consecutive first-team appearances with two fine saves, while another deflected effort by the Italian flew inches wide.

But Forest almost snatched it twice in the dying minutes as the Boro goal led a charmed life.

First Ian Woan planted a 25-yard shot against the foot of Miller's left-hand post and, when the ball was returned from the left, only a spectacular clearance by Pearson prevented Kevin Campbell's header from looping over the goal-line.

But Boro were reduced to 10 men with just seconds remaining when skipper Pearson, who had been yellow carded for dissent eight minutes from time, saw the punishment repeated for a foul on Bart-Williams that brought red.