Mac digs Grayson out of a Deep hole
AIDEN McGEADY rescued a point for play-off hopefuls Preston against relegation battlers Nottingham Forest at Deepdale.
Britt Assombalonga’s cool finish gave Mark Warburton’s strugglers the advantage but McGeady drew the Lilywhites level after the break.
Simon Grayson’s side are now six points outside the top six, while Forest are just two points clear of the drop zone with seven games left.
The North End boss said: “We started the game very brightly, we just didn’t take the chances when they came along.
“But you’ve got to give Forest credit – they passed it around and caused us a lot of problems.
“Chris Maxwell made a good save before half-time which was crucial because if you go two down it is a big mountain to climb.
“We looked like we could go and win it in the second half.”
Preston started well and McGeady’s pass sent in Paul Huntington, who forced Forest keeper Jordan Smith into a fifth-minute save.
Tom Barkhuizen then raced clear of Danny Fox to go one-on-one with Smith but the stopper saved the forward’s low shot, while Jordan Hugill’s curling effort went agonisingly over.
Forest responded well and left-back Daniel Pinillos picked out Chris Cohen but his header looped into Maxwell’s arms.
The visitors went in front in the 22nd minute when Zach Clough played in Assombalonga, who fired convincingly past Maxwell for his 10th goal of the season to send Forest into the half-time break ahead.
But the home side were level seven minutes into the second half as McGeady beat Smith for his sixth strike in Preston colours.
Both sides had chances to grab all three points but neither could find the vital breakthrough.
Forest boss Warburton said: “As the game wore on we looked strong.
“It says something for the quality of the squad that we’re feeling we’ve dropped two points as opposed to earning a point.”