Lewis Grabban's late leveller salvaged a 2-2 draw for Championship promotion chasers Nottingham Forest at struggling Middlesbrough on Monday.

Grabban equalised with four minutes remaining despite Middlesbrough's protests that the striker had fouled goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.

Middlesbrough had appeared on course to move out of the bottom three with a first win in 10 games after responding to Ryan Yates' 29th-minute opener with two goals in four minutes through Rudy Gestede and Lewis Wing.

But Grabban's intervention kept Jonathan Woodgate's side in the relegation zone and saw fourth-placed Forest edge to within eight points of second-placed Leeds in the race for promotion to the Premier League.

Middlesbrough found themselves behind when Sammy Ameobi's pass was dispatched by Yates from outside the area.

With five minutes remaining in the first half, Paddy McNair's deep free-kick was headed back across goal by Harold Moukoudi for Middlesbrough striker Gestede to head his first goal at the Riverside Stadium in more than two years.

Hayden Coulson set up Middlesbrough's second goal, rolling a pass to Wing who saw his shot hit the arm of Brice Samba before trickling over the line.

But Grabban had the last word in the 86th minute.

Joe Lolley's volley was deflected high into the area and Grabban protected the ball with his back and left arm before turning to flick a finish over the line.