GETTING back into the goalscoring groove is Boro's top priority after successive blanks at Blackpool and Forest, says David Wheater.

The big defender grabbed his first of the season and Boro's last away goal in the 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town earlier this month during Boro's six-game unbeaten run.

But since Barry Robson's early goal in the 1-0 win over bottom club Peterborough at the Riverside, Boro have now gone 263 minutes without hitting the back of the net.

"We got a good run going but the goals seem to have dried up again and we need to start scoring again," said Wheater.

"We need to start picking up points now, we need to start winning or at least drawing and we're not doing that just now."

Boro enjoyed plenty of possession at the City Ground on Saturday but rarely tested former England U21 international Lee Camp's goal.

"We didn't really create much, we had a lot of corners but the keeper just came and got most of them," said Wheater.

"We had enough set-pieces to get a goal and Leroy Lita had a decent shot at the end."

There was nothing to choose between the sides but the game was decided by a sweeping Forest move after referee Phil Crossley failed to give what looked to be a clear foul on Lita.

"The ball kept coming back at us all the time and for the one goal everybody's switched off," admitted Wheater. "Everybody's stopped, looking for a free-kick and the referee hasn't blown."

The two defeats have dealt a huge blow to Boro's play-off hopes but with 13 games to play and 39 points to be won, Wheater still believes the team have what it takes to stage a late run.

"We've got leaders in the team now and that's what we needed, so we just need to score goals," he said.