Preston North End 0-0 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 22.02.22

Without a game for ten days following Friday night’s postponement in Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest looked rusty against a Preston North End side off the back of a home defeat against Reading at the weekend and with a point to prove, a point in the end is what both teams shared, Forest the more relieved of the two.

The Reds started off brightly at a cold half filled Deepdale for this midweek clash in Lancashire and in their cult hi-vis third kit done most of the early pushing with a penalty appeal waved away after ten minutes when Davis looked to be tripped over inside the box. Ched Evans then struck from long range the home team’s first effort which was easily saved by Horvath.

Shortly after, Ryan Yates put his body on the line and blocked a powerful volley by Hughes which looked to be on target before Horvath was again called in to action as Archer raced into the area with the American stand in goalkeeper for the suspended Brice Samba, able to push out for a Preston corner.

Browne was next to test Horvath on 35 minutes with a low drilled effort which the excellent goalkeeper was equal too, both sides stalemate at half time with the Lilywhites coming more into the game as the opening period went on.

The second half started in similar fashion, Forest pushing along with intent to attack but the opening chances of the half came when Preston countered, Browne thread through Cameron Archer who shot hard at Horvath who again made a fine save, diving to his right to punch away from safety.

On 56 minutes Archer was again sent through on goal and this time shot wide when it looked easier to hit the target, the hosts best opportunity of the match spurned ahead of the hour before Whiteman then tested Horvath with a long range free kick, straight into the hands of the grateful Reds no2 again.

Archer continued to cause problems and on 64 he again linked with Whiteman for the latter to whisker a thumping shot wide from outside the box, Archer then crossed on 75 a deflected effort off Joe Worrall which looped inches from catching out the goalkeeper to go out for a corner. It could have been worse?

Preston played some lovely football, pressing hard with intelligent off-ball running and largely dominated the second half, substitute Riis combined with Potts who again saw his shot straight at Horvath on 87 before Forest almost created an opportunity for themselves, Djed Spence going on a mazy run into the box to drill across the six yard box which unfortunately evaded everyone.

It wasn’t Spence’s night, it wasn’t really Forest’s night as the side rode their luck whilst creating very little, in the end coming home with a point might not be a bad outcome as on the second half performance, it was possibly more than they perhaps deserved.

Pluses for the clean sheet, another to the collection and Ethan Horvath in between the sticks impressing whilst under pressure, the Reds next up face Bristol City on Saturday at the City Ground.

Preston North End: Iversen, van den Berg, Bauer (Earl 53), Lindsay, Potts, Whiteman, Browne, Hughes, Johnson, Evans (Riis 75), Archer.

Nottingham Forest: Horvath, Worrall, Cook, McKenna, Spence, Yates, Colback, Lowe, Garner, Johnson, Davis (Surridge 81).

Venue: Deepdale

*Main image @NFFC Max Lowe in action for Forest at Preston.