Preston 1-0 Nottingham Forest: Doyle's early strike condemns Forest

Eoin Doyle's first Preston goal heaped more misery on Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman as his men's winless run extended to eight games at Deepdale.

Cardiff loanee Doyle struck in just the second minute on Tuesday night before North End stood firm to record a fifth straight clean sheet that ensured they leapfrogged Forest in the Sky Bet Championship table with a 1-0 success.

The visitors had plenty of opportunities to equalise in the opening 45 minutes but they ran out of ideas in the second half to continue their wretched form and keep the scrutiny on Freedman's position at the City Ground.

Doyle had been without a North End goal since signing in September but one minute and 50 seconds into this encounter, that drought was over.

When Ben Osborn's attempt was smothered at one end by Jordan Pickford, North End broke in numbers and Doyle burst into the area.

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Daniel Johnson took aim, and although Dorus de Vries prevented that effort from going past him, Doyle followed up to finish via the goalkeeper's legs at the near post.

Six minutes later, it should have been 2-0, yet Joe Garner was unable to follow Doyle in registering for the first time this season as he headed Adam Reach's cross over.

Forest heads did not drop, though, and they dominated the remainder of the first half with efforts from Ryan Mendes, Jamie Ward and Nelson Oliveira all coming close as the Lilywhites' openness led to numerous chances.

Ward even hit the top of the crossbar with one shot while Garner's low effort whistled inches wide of a post to suggest there would be more goals in the second period.

However, both sides tightened up after the break, and it was not until Garner's 73rd-minute attempt, which De Vries almost spilled into Doyle's path, that either goalkeeper was troubled.

There were even groans among the home support when the ball was passed backwards as Simon Grayson's men closed in on their first home league victory of the season.

The attacking prowess might not have been evident but their stoutness in defensive was once again on display with a series of defensive blocks and headers, Australia international Bailey Wright once again standing out.

And when three Forest players converged on the ball as Jack Hobbs' free-kick entered the six-yard box, a white shirt managed to hack the ball clear among a forest of bodies around goalkeeper Pickford.

Freedman's men could not find a way through during a mundane second half to give Friday night's meeting with in-form bitter rivals Derby added significance for both him and his club.

And Freedman believes their visit this Friday is just the tonic his side need.

"Thank God! I really want this game [Forest vs Derby] to come along," the Forest boss said. "I want it to be a big occasion, on Sky, I want to show everybody how well we're playing. Hopefully we can play as well as we did tonight and I'm very convinced we'll get the win.

"This is exactly what we need - we need these big occasions, we need to put in the spotlight and see who's up for this challenge.

"We cannot shy away from it. There's no use running away. The football club's being doing that for many years, running away from little problems. We are in a very, very difficult moment in terms of on and off the field and we've got to stick together and work through it. There's nothing else you can do.

"These players are fully committed to the cause. They just need a little break."

Preston manager Simon Grayson was thrilled with his side's defensive performance as they withstood Forest's best efforts to earn yet another clean sheet.

"It's a fantastic achievement to get five clean sheets on the trot," said Grayson.

"To do it in any league takes some doing but at this level with the players we've been against - there's a huge amount of credit to the lads, as individuals and as a team.

"Tonight was a night where we've not played anywhere near as well as we can do, or have done, against Ipswich, Wolves and Middlesbrough and not picked up three points. (The first home league win) is a monkey off our back."