Nottingham Forest can thank the heroics of goalkeeper Karl Darlow for their continued presence in The FA Cup after League One Preston North End came close to a cup shock at The City Ground.
Darlow was forced into a string of superb reaction saves in the closing stages ensuring the sides will meet again in 10 days at Deepdale.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Preston North End
FA Cup with Budweiser
Fourth Round Proper
The City Ground
Friday 24 January
With the minutes slipping away the Forest stopper had to repel a low raking shot from North End substitute Jack King before blocking Josh Brownhill’s free kick with the last kick of the game.
A draw was the least Simon Grayson’s visitors deserved after a disciplined and determined effort which frustrated their Championship counterparts throughout the evening.
Forest had entered the contest on a fine run of league form with manager Billy Davies underlining the need for cup progression to continue their upwards momentum. It was a sentiment backed up on the teamsheet with the home side starting the game with three recognised forward players.
And Forest’s forward trio of Simon Cox, Jamie Paterson and Jamie Mackie were quick to demonstrate why Davies’s men occupy a threatening position in the Championship.
Early in the first period Paterson curled a long range effort wide before Cox forced North End goalkeeper Declan Rudd to push over.
However, any ideas of an easy passage to the Fifth Round for the home side were soon extinguished as Grayson’s men - themselves on a good run of league form - began to demonstrate their intent, eagerly harrying and pressing Davies’s men when in possession.
It would prove to set the evening’s narrative. With Forest’s enjoying the majority of the evening’s possession the League One side worked manfully without the ball, a task they approached with energy and endeavour. On regaining possession Preston flooded forwarded to support their lone forward Joe Garner, who worked tirelessly throughout.
Although the hosts struggled to find a clear route through Preston’s massed ranks they were admirable in their adherence to their pass and move approach.Andy Reid and Radoslaw Majewski dictated play in central areas as Forest looked to pick their way through Preston’s defensive lines.
With clearcut opportunities at a minimum Davies shuffled his pack in the second period and nearly found the reward he had searched for all evening.
Reid saw a curling effort flash past an upright before substitute Darius Henderson saw his headed effort drift tantalisingly wide in the closing stages.
Nottingham Forest: Darlow, Jara, Halford, Collins, Lichaj, Vaughan, Mackie (Abdoun 60), Majewski (Derbyshire, 74), Reid, Paterson, Cox (Henderson 60).
Substitutes not used: De Vries, Harding, Lascelles, Moussi.
Preston North End: Rudd, Wiseman, Clarke, Wright, Buchanan, Welsh, Brownhill, Kilkenny (Hume 80), Humphrey (Holmes 68), Gallagher, Garner (King 86).
Substitutes not used: Stuckmann, Laird, Beavon, Keane.
Referee: M Dean
Attendance: 26, 465
