The Wales international struck either side of Jon Parkin's close-range strike - his first in an away game for the club - to put an unwanted dent in PNE's play-off hopes.

North End's defending for both goals wasn't the best, Earnshaw getting ahead of the visitors' back four to head the first.

Then Andrew Davies and Andrew Lonergan got themselves muddled up dealing with a through ball on the edge of the box, allowing the Forest front man to fire into an unguarded net.

It was bitterly disappointing for the 988 travelling fans who backed their side from the first whistle to last.

They had hoped to put one over on former PNE boss Billy Davies, now in charge of Forest.

Heavy rain before kick-off and during the first half left the pitch extremely wet in patches, especially down the main stand side of the ground.

Conditions were difficult for the players before half-time, most of the scoring opportunities at either end being shots from distance.

North End's best chance in the opening 45 minutes fell Billy Jones' way, the right-back letting fly with a swerving shot from 25 yards which Paul Smith dived to his left to save.

Alan Irvine's men started brightly, backed by an impressive travelling support numbering.

Inside 40 seconds, a teasing cross from Simon Whaley flashed across the face of the six-yard box, but no-one in a white shirt was able to apply the final touch.

Skidded

Then Richard Chaplow found himself space in the box but couldn't get a shot off after being crowded out by the Forest defence.

At the other end, Lonergan flapped at a Lewis McGugan corner but the loose ball was cleared.

And the only real threat to North End's goal in the opening exchanges was a Luke Chambers shot which he scooped wide.

Forest midfielder McGugan tried his luck from 25 yards but the ball skidded off the wet turf and went wide of the target.

Preston had a shot for a penalty turned down by Premier League referee Peter Walton as the half-hour approached.

Ross Wallace chased a long ball forward from Callum Davidson into the box, Chambers' tackle appearing to take both player and ball.

But the visitors' appeals fell on deaf ears, the PNE coaching staff having words with fourth official Tony Bates.

Forest's Chris Cohen and Paul Anderson each tried their luck from distance, Lonergan dealing with both quite comfortably.

On target

Twice inside the opening two minutes of the second half, North End went close to opening the scoring.

First, Wallace let fly from 25 yards, his left-foot shot just clearing the bar, then Barry Nicholson drilled in a low shot which went just wide.

Chaplow limped off in the 50th minute to be replaced by Darren Carter.

Forest went in front in the 57th minute, Joel Lynch's left-wing cross being met by Earnshaw who guided a downward header past Lonergan from eight yards.

But North End were level within six minutes, Parkin on target with his seventh goal of the campaign.

Wallace delivered an inswinging corner from the right, the ball falling to Parkin in the six-yard box and he turned it home with a side-foot shot.

Forest regained the lead in the 71st minute, Lonergan and Davies getting themselves mixed up on the edge of the box as they tried to deal with a routine ball forward.

Davies' backpass hit Lonergan on the foot, the ball bouncing into the path of Earnshaw who rolled it into the net.

North End's response was a curling shot from substitute Carter which went just wide of the angle of bar and post.

Caution

At the other end, Lonergan produced a fine save at the foot of the post to keep out a Paul Anderson header.

Then McGugan fired over from outside the box after cutting in from the right-wing.

Irvine opted for caution when selecting his side, going for a 4-5-1 formation to match Forest's.

Parkin recovered from a bruised hip to play a lone striker's role, backed up from midfield by Whaley and Wallace.

It meant Stephen Elliott, scorer of North End's third goal against Ipswich last Saturday, dropped down to the bench.

Nicholson came into midfield after the former Aberdeen man was an unused sub at the weekend.

There was a change at the back, Davies replacing Youl Mawene at the heart of the defence.

Sean St Ledger, who came off against Ipswich suffering from blurred vision, was passed fit to play.

Former North End defender Kelvin Wilson was named in the Forest side, ex-PNE boss Billy Davies handing a debut to Isiah Osbourne whom he signed on loan from Aston Villa on Monday.

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Luke Chambers, Wes Morgan, Kelvin Wilson, Joel Lynch, Paul Anderson, Lewis McGugan, Isaiah Osbourne, Chris Cohen, Garath McCleary, Robert Earnshaw.

Substitutes: Patrick Gamble (GK), Joe Garner, Matt Thornhill, Ian Breckin, Joe Heath.

Preston North End: Andy Lonergan, Billy Jones, Andrew Davies, Sean St Ledger, Callum Davidson, Simon Whaley, Barry Nicholson, Paul McKenna, Richard Chaplow, Ross Wallace, Jon Parkin.

Substitutes: Chris Neal (GK), Darren Carter, Eddie Nolan, Stephen Elliott, Chris Brown.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northants).

Attendance: 17,568.

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