Forest’s record for winning at Preston is not good. The last time they did was 1960 and not one member of the current squad – including Des Walker – was even born. And after giving the lead away twice the record still stands.
Though things looked promising for the Red’s when they took the lead with less than four minutes on the clock.
The goal came as Gareth Taylor won the ball from a free kick, Chris Lucketti cleared his header half-heartedly and it fell to Marlon King who volleyed it into the net from eight yards out.
Forest tried to make something of their early domination and were unlucky as Reid came close to doubling their lead. His clever chip shot had Jonathan Gould at full stretch as he got his finger tips to it to push it over the bar.
So far Gould had been the busier of the ‘keepers and it wasn’t until the 20th minute that Paul Gerrard was called into action, but Riccardo Fuller’s shot was straight at him.
A minute later Gerrard was in action again as Graham Alexander produced a 25-yard dipping shot from nothing, forcing Gerrard to tip it over the bar.
Preston had upped the pace in their search for an equaliser, and reaped the rewards for their perseverance on 34 minutes as Lucketti stuck away Paul McKenna’s cross.
Then, former Forest man, Scott Gemmill, nearly put Preston in the lead with a blistering 35-yard effort that had Gerrard at full stretch as he pulled off a great save.
But Forest were responding well to the pressure, and they stunned the home crowd on the stroke of half-time as the took the lead again.
Reid’s cross again picked out the head of Gareth Taylor, and this time he directed his header goalward only to see it come back off the upright, where Gareth Williams was on hand to volley the ball back into the net.
Preston went straight into action as the second half got under way and almost got back on level terms as Fuller, completely unmarked, rose to meet Alexander’s corner, only to direct it wide of the target.
It was end-to-end stuff as Forest looked to consolidate their lead, while Preston searched for the equaliser.
Reid came close for Forest but his shot was weak and easily saved, while McKenna blasted a 20-yard shot which skimmed over the bar at the other end.
The worrying thing from Forest’s perspective was that as Preston continued to pile on the pressure, the defence started to look more and more shaky, and the equaliser became inevitable.
It duly arrived from a corner in the 77th minute. Alexander’s low corner picked out McKenna on the edge of the box and he slotted it neatly past Gerrard.
And as the game drew to a close Preston were the stronger side as they went after the winner, only some good defending from Impey preventing Jeff Smith from getting the clean shot he need to bag the winner.
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