Match ends, Preston North End 0, Nottingham Forest 0.
PrestonPreston North End0Nottm ForestNottingham Forest0
Preston stretched their unbeaten run to seven games with a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest as visiting manager Martin O'Neill made it eight points from his first six matches in charge.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, Preston stopper Declan Rudd made a fingertip save to deny Forest striker Lewis Grabban, who was through on goal just before half-time.
Forest goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon then made an equally good stop to keep out Brad Potts, while Joe Lolley had the ball in the net for the visitors but it was ruled out for a foul by Ryan Yates.
It was the first goalless draw in a league fixture between these two sides since March 1910.
Pantilimon's second-half save to deny Potts was one of two key moments - the other being referee Tim Robinson's decision to blow for a foul by Yates on Preston keeper Rudd as Lolley fired home a loose ball in the 68th minute.
For Preston, the draw extended an unbeaten sequence which stretches back to New Year's Day and has seen them rise from 18th to 11th in the Championship.
O'Neill's Forest are now four points off the play-offs in eighth, but this result will most please their rivals Derby County, who are one place ahead of them and have two games in hand.
Preston boss Alex Neil said:
"It wasn't great was it? But we had three good opportunities in the first half and if one of those goes in it's a very different game.
"The first 10 minutes was key for us - if we had got the early goal it would have brought Forest out and made them more expansive.
"Lewis Grabban is excellent as this level but Ben Davies is a top centre-back and he dealt with him really well which was pleasing."
Nottingham Forest manager Martin O'Neill said:
"We should have taken all three points. The (Lolley) goal should have stood in the second half.
"The keeper spilt the ball and it was there to fight for. We have been robbed of all three points again. That is four points in two games.
"It should have counted and I told the referee after the game that he should look at it again. These are the points that you cannot get back."
Line-ups
Preston
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Rudd
- 2Fisher
- 14Storey
- 6Davies
- 16Hughes
- 4Pearson
- 29BarkhuizenSubstituted forJohnsonat 65'minutes
- 8Browne
- 44Potts
- 12GallagherSubstituted forStockleyat 45'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 24MaguireSubstituted forNmechaat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Earl
- 5Clarke
- 11Johnson
- 13Crowe
- 18Ledson
- 20Stockley
- 45Nmecha
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Pantilimon
- 27Darikwa
- 17Milosevic
- 29Benalouane
- 18Robinson
- 6Colback
- 22Yates
- 11Osborn
- 23Lolley
- 7Grabban
- 9MurphySubstituted forCarvalhoat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Carvalho
- 13Wagué
- 15Steele
- 19Cupido Goncalves
- 24Yacob
- 28Tuncará Gomes
- 33Bonatini
- Referee:
- Tim Robinson
- Attendance:
- 13,904
Match Stats
Home TeamPrestonAway TeamNottm Forest
- Possession
- Home61%
- Away39%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 0, Nottingham Forest 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alan Browne (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Daniel Johnson with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Lukas Nmecha (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Alan Browne (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Colback (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Attempt missed. Alan Browne (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Andrew Hughes with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Booking
Jayden Stockley (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Jayden Stockley (Preston North End).
Post update
Yohan Benalouane (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Preston North End. Jayden Stockley tries a through ball, but Andrew Hughes is caught offside.
Post update
Jayden Stockley (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Yohan Benalouane (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Jayden Stockley (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Robinson (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Declan Rudd (Preston North End) because of an injury.
Post update
Ben Davies (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
