Lewis Grabban's goal was just his second of an injury-hit season
Lewis Grabban's second-half penalty ended Preston North End's three-game winning run and earned improving Nottingham Forest a sixth Championship victory of the season.
Grabban slotted the ball low down the centre of the goal despite slipping in his run-up and provoking strong claims from the home side that the striker made a double contact with the ball.
The Reds, who climb out of the relegation zone and up to 19th place, controlled a first half of few clear chances and went closest when Anthony Knockaert blasted an effort over.
Preston improved after the break and Tom Barkhuizen clipped the bar with a curling effort at 0-0 before Ben Davies smashed an effort off the bar after Grabban's goal.
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But an increasingly nervy Forest held on through almost 10 minutes of added time to extend their unbeaten run to five games and inflict an 11th league defeat on their hosts, who drop a place to 12th.
A bleak wintry day at Deepdale produced little on-pitch cheer before the break, with neither side managing an attempt on target until the 43rd minute, when Preston's Daniel Johnson had a shot well saved by Brice Samba.
Forest had the better of things, looking comfortable in defence and getting into numerous promising situations without creating much apart from Knockaert's wasteful strike, blasted over from 10 yards.
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Preston improved considerably on the resumption, with Barkhuizen twice nearly finding a breakthrough. The striker forced Samba into a superb save with a header and then hit the bar with a fine curling effort from the right.
But Grabban's second goal in 13 appearances this season, after Darnell Fisher blocked Cafu's poked effort with his arm, put the visitors ahead and broke Forest's run of three consecutive draws.
Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"I am delighted. In the first half we were really good but the only thing we missed was the end product and goals that would have given us a deserved lead.
"That would have eased the pressure in the second half but overall we deserved the victory. The win is massive and gives us confidence.
"We work hard to get into good areas and when you do it's about showing good quality. When we play well and get into good areas we have to capitalise on it. We need to improve in that area.
"Lewis showed composure with the penalty although he did slip. It wasn't a double hit. He actually kicked his own foot. It's good to have him back."
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsPreston
- 1Rudd2Fisher23Huntington6Davies16Hughes7BaylissSubstituted forGallagherat 77'minutes18LedsonBooked at 24mins44PottsSubstituted forRiis Jakobsenat 77'minutes11Johnson29Barkhuizen24MaguireSubstituted forStockleyat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Earl12Gallagher14Storey15Rafferty19Riis Jakobsen20Stockley25Ripley27Holland-Wilkinson32O'Reilly
Nottm Forest
- 30Samba2Christie3FigueiredoBooked at 52mins4Worrall5Ribeiro22Yates21SowBooked at 21mins28Knockaert18Ribeiro DiasSubstituted forArterat 88'minutes11AmeobiSubstituted forLolleyat 63'minutes7GrabbanSubstituted forTaylorat 90+2'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 12Smith13Bong16Jenkinson17Mighten19Guerrero23Lolley26McKenna31Arter33Taylor
Referee:Tim RobinsonMatch StatsHome TeamPrestonAway TeamNottm ForestPossessionHome48%Away52%ShotsHome14Away10Shots on TargetHome3Away1CornersHome6Away7FoulsHome7Away12Live TextPost update
Match ends, Preston North End 0, Nottingham Forest 1.
90'+9'Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 0, Nottingham Forest 1.
90'+9'Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Brice Samba.
90'+9'Post update
Attempt saved. Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
90'+6'Post update
Foul by Samba Sow (Nottingham Forest).
90'+6'Post update
Jayden Stockley (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+6'Booking
Lyle Taylor (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.
90'+5'Post update
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Harry Arter tries a through ball, but Lyle Taylor is caught offside.
90'+5'Post update
Foul by Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest).
90'+5'Post update
Darnell Fisher (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt missed. Lyle Taylor (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tobias Figueiredo.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Tobias Figueiredo (Nottingham Forest).
90'+3'Post update
Jayden Stockley (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+2'Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Lyle Taylor replaces Lewis Grabban.
90'Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
89'Post update
Foul by Samba Sow (Nottingham Forest).
89'Post update
Tom Barkhuizen (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Harry Arter replaces Cafú.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Jayden Stockley replaces Sean Maguire.
85'Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Paul Gallagher.
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Source: bbc.com