Preston North End 1-1 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 11.07.20

Nottingham Forest endured a hard-earned point at Deepdale after Lewis Grabban’s early penalty was cancelled out by Preston North End’s Jayden Stockley with neither side able to find a winner in their fight for playoff status.

In truth the result was a better point for fifth place Forest than it was for Preston who lie eighth in the Championship with the Reds now needing to beat Swansea City on Wednesday night at the City Ground to be certain of a place in the playoffs. Preston themselves, two points behind Cardiff City in sixth will be hoping for slip ups from the Bluebirds and the seventh placed Swans if they are to still have a chance at promotion.

Joe Lolley, Toby Figueiredo and Matty Cash were all notable absentees from the Reds starting line-up but that didn’t stop the away side in starting the better of the two teams as Da Costa was felled inside the box for a penalty on just four minutes. Lewis Grabban coolly stepped up and sent Goalkeeper Declan Rudd the wrong way to net his 20^th of the campaign but just ten minutes later the home side were level when Jayden Stockley placed home from close range after good work by Brad Potts.

The first half was lively and entertaining without any chances of real note as Ameobi curling over perhaps spurning the Reds only opportunity on twenty minutes as defences were on top in a half which Forest might have been disappointed to have not gone in at the break in front.

After a couple of enforced changes for Preston the home side started the better of the two teams in the second half with Brad Potts immediately shooting over with Bauer going even closer on 49 minutes but for his header to be blocked as it travelled goalwards.

Preston pressed as the longer the game went on the more Forest looked content in defending for a point as Jenkinson blocked well from Potts on 64 before two minutes later Daniel Johnson volleyed over from 20 yards with Maguire heading wide on 71.

Forest did have their own chances with substitute Tiago Silva shooting over from distance with ten minutes remaining the best of a few, whilst Brice Samba at the other end acted quickly to deny Sean Maguire from giving the Lillywhites a late lead.

As the clock ticked nervously into stoppage time Paul Gallagher shot over and Joe Worrall blocked a late goal bound effort from Barkhuizen to ensure the spoils were shared with Forest heading back to Nottingham with a point, which in all honesty is what they looked set up to require from the off.

Disappointing that Forest didn’t create chances but it was a point nonetheless, important in securing their playoff status which they now look destined to do.

One win from the final three matches should do it, next up is Swansea City on Wednesday where three points for Forest will secure their status in the top six for certain.

Preston North End: Rudd, Rafferty, Bauer, Davies (Storey 44), Hughes, Pearson (Ledson 46), Johnson (Gallagher 83), Potts, Maguire, Sinclair (Barkhuizen 64), Stockley (Harrop 82).

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Jenkinson, Dawson, Worrall, Ribeiro, Yates, Watson, Sow (Silva 68), Ameobi (Diakhaby 89), da Costa (Mighten 82), Grabban.

Venue: Deepdale

*Main image @NFFC Forest left back Bruno Ribeiro in action at Deepdale.