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Preston North End 3 Nottingham Forest 2
Preston North End survived a second-half fightback from Nottingham Forest to take the three points at Deepdale on Saturday
PNE raced into a three-goal lead before the interval, Ross Wallace, Callum Davidson (pen) and Matt James on target.
But Dexter Blackstock reduced the arrears from the penalty spot in the 57th minute, and substitute Rob Earnshaw ran through to net a second Forest goal with 14 minutes left.
It meant a nervous closing period for North End, with some backs-against-the-wall defending needed.
But they saw the game out - including more than four minutes of stoppage time - to clinch victory and stretch their unbeaten run to four games.
It meant a disappointing Deepdale return for ex-PNE boss Billy Davies who was taunted by the home fans throughout and needed a stewards escort to the tunnel at the final whistle.
They were lively from the start, North End going close after just 38 seconds, Wallace's cross picking out Chris Brown in the middle but the unmarked striker put his header wide.
Then in the sixth minute, a Wallace free-kick was met by Sean St Ledger, his diving header on target but blocked by a defender.
David McGoldrick saw a tame shot saved by Andrew Lonergan, although the effort was drifting wide anyway.
North End took a 20th minute lead, Neil Mellor surging forward from his own half down the inside right channel.
He played a superb crossfield ball out to Wallace, the Scottish winger taking a touch on the edge of the box before shooting past keeper Lee Camp.
The second goal came from the spot in the 29th minute, referee Mark Haywood awarding a penalty when Chris Gunter wrestled Billy Jones to the ground as they competed to meet a Wallace corner.
Davidson struck the penalty low and hard down the middle, Camp diving out of the way.
James brought Deepdale to its feet a third time less than three minutes later, Wallace rolling a pass into his feet, the on loan Manchester United midfielder rifling a first-time shot into the far top corner from 20 yards.
Four minutes before the interval, Chris Sedgwick put a header wide from a Davidson left-wing cross.
PNE lost Youl Mawene to injury in the closing minutes of the first half, Liam Chilvers replacing him.
Nine minutes into the second half, Mellor chased a long ball forward and lifted a shot over the bar from a narrow angle.
Forest reduced the arrears in the 57th minute with the third penalty PNE have given away in the last three games.
Jones tripped Chris Cohen just inside the box, Mr Haywood having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Blackstock tucked the penalty low and hard into the corner, Lonergan guessing the right way but unable to get to it.
Cohen and Blackstock both then put efforts over the bar as Forest's confidence gained after the penalty.
In the 74th minute, Sedgwick fired over with an ambitious effort as PNE looked for a fourth goal.
Forest pulled a second goal back in the 76th minute, Blackstock sliding a pass through for Earnshaw to run clear and lift a shot over the advancing Lonergan.
There were four changes to the North End side.
Of the starters against Doncaster in midweek, Jon Parkin and Tom Williams were ruled out by injury, with Richard Chaplow and Keith Treacy dropping down to the bench.
Brown replaced Parkin up front, Davidson coming in for Williams at left-back.
James was a straight swap for Chaplow in the centre of midfield, with Wallace returning after a hamstring injury on the left-wing.
Danny Mayor was again named on the bench after an impressive substitute appearance in the Doncaster game.
PNE: Lonergan, Jones, St Ledger, Mawene, Davidson, Sedgwick, James, Coutts, Wallace, Brown, Mellor. Subs: Hart, Chaplow, Carter, Chilvers, Treacy, Mayor, Henderson.
Forest: Camp, Morgan, Wilson, Cohen, Gunter, Anderson, McGugan, Moussi, Boyd, McGoldrick, Blackstock. Subs: Chambers, Adebola, Earnshaw, Tyson, Garner, Majewski, Smith.
Referee: Mark Haywood (West Yorks)
For a full report, reaction and pictures, seeing Monday's Lancashire Evening Post
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
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Light sleet
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