The cameras were on for this live FA Cup tie being broadcast on BT Sport between two sides looking to gain promotion in their division and for them looking to gain a place in the next round to face Nigel Clough’s Sheffield United and to be two wins away from Wembley.
Garner was sat on the bench and didn’t start against his former club, as Kevin Davies returned from suspension and took his place.
Forest named a very strong side, which included Jamie Mackie and the in form Simon Cox.
The game started off with both teams playing free flowing football when they had possession, something Forest do regularly, with Preston making some good combinational passes to try and work the ball into the Forest box.
Both teams were also getting crosses into the box and trying to aim for their big guys in the box, Cox went closest for the Championship side after Abdoun’s distribution from the right found the head of the former West Brom striker but he headed over and the linesman’s flag was also up.
Preston then had their first chance of the game, after good link up play between Buchanan and Welsh to play Keane in the box but his touch let him down and Forest earned a goal kick.
Forest then won a corner, it was whipped into the box and missed everyone and landed into some empty space in the area which Mackie ran into and picked the ball and went for goal, which ended up to be a well placed shot into the bottom corner of the net.
A good goal from the Scot, to give the East Midlands side a one goal lead.
Preston were a goal down but had the quality to get back into the game and get shots on goal and try to test the Forest keeper De Vries, with Kilkenny scuffing a shot wide which was a wasted effort to be fair as he did have the option to slip Humphrey in on the right hand side.
Forest were trying to extend their good lead, with good work from Derbyshire on the right hand side getting past Buchanan and crossing the ball towards Cox but the in form striker saw his header go inches wide of Rudd’s right hand post.
Preston from then on were trying to bring their name back into the game, they earned a free kick in a threatening position, a few yards away from the byline which Holmes delivered to find Kevin Davies who had a real poachers effort inches from goal which De Vries parried and ended up in a scramble in the box which Forest eventually dealt with.
Holmes was then involved in another Preston chance, after good passing play from Welsh and Keane saw them work to thread it through to Holmes but the number eleven couldn’t quite get on the end of it.
Holmes then again was involved after Buchanan crossed from the left into the Forest box which De Vries got a fist to only as far as Holmes who had an effort on goal, but nothing was made for it and Forest clear the danger.
Half time came and despite Forest’s lead, North End deserved something which all the possession they have had and good link up play in certain areas of the pitch.
In the second half they just need to make this possession count, by creating more chances and being more clinical in that final third.
When the second half came, Preston were controlling it like they were doing at the end of the first half.
They created an early chance with Davies finding himself some space in the Red’s area and getting a shot on goal, but the former Bolton striker saw that in the back of the stands.
The Lilywhites were also earning a few corners for themselves through good work from Holmes, with them either being scrambled away from Forest or saved comfortably by De Vries.
Preston were definitely getting closer to getting things back onto level terms, the ball fell to Kilkenny in the box, but the experienced Forest defender Danny Collins blocked his shot.
And North End were even more unlucky when Welsh had an effort on goal which forced De Vries into a very good parrying save only to the experienced Davies who this time surely had to score after millions of chances, but guess what, Forest defender Lascelles cleared the ball of the line and Preston still trailed 1-0 at Deepdale.
There was ten minutes to go and Preston were still dominating but couldn’t grab that vital equaliser, with scuffed shots, blocked shots and goal-line clearances preventing them from doing so.
And add post hitting to that list, after Garner was so close from scoring against his former club but it was typical for the post to be in the way after his shot was deflected.
There was then four minutes to be added on.
Minutes were to play and Preston were pushing and pushing to force extra time, but for it to backfire as Forest had possession Darius Henderson had the last kick of the game to secure Forest their place in the 4th round after he smashed home into the bottom corner.
Unlucky from Preston, just wasn’t their night, but onwards and upwards!
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