Special Jay repeats his super rescue act for ‘frustrated’ Neil
ACE striker Lewis Grabban chalked up his 20th goal for Forest – but the day belonged to North End hitman Jayden Stockley.
It was a body blow for Preston’s flickering hopes of making the play-offs when Grabban scored from the spot after just five minutes.
But up stepped Stockley to save his side for the second time within a week.
The striker had forced his way into the side midweek at Sheffield Wednesday to pull Preston back on to the victory trail with his first goal since December.
And the £750,000 signing from Exeter last year was at it again, this time at Deepdale against play-off pushing Forest.
Brad Potts sent over a hard, low cross in front of goal and there was Stockley in the right place at the right time to steer the ball past keeper Brice Samba with one flowing move.
He was a constant menace up front and issued an early warning when he sent a glancing header just over. Late on, another header handed sub Tom Barkhuizen a chance but he was just unable to connect in front of goal.
Boss Alex Neil said: “We flung everything at it and we are a bit frustrated. It’s an opportunity missed.
“But I can’t really complain. The lads gave their all and the subs made an impact.
“We are still in the hunt, but it looks as though we will have to go to difficult places and have to win. That’s the situation.”
Yet it had all started so well for Forest, and so badly for North End.
A rugged tackle by Ben Pearson sent Nuno
Da Costa sprawling and ref Jeremy Simpson pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Up stepped the experienced Grabban to calmly hammer low and hard just inside Declan Rudd’s right post, the keeper having dived the wrong way in any case.
Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi was satisfied with a point.
“I’m very happy with what was a solid performance,” he said.
“We tried to win it and stayed focused to the end. It may be enough on Wednesday to see us through but who knows?”
He praised Grabban for his display.
“He wanted his 20th goal and I want my 20th win,” said Lamouchi.
“I think we’re on 18 at the moment. Lewis has helped us a lot and we want to stay up there and be in the play-offs for the first time in a lot of years.”
It was a tight game but Forest’s Sammy Ameobi twice tried his luck, first with a curling long-range effort and then with a fierce cross-goal drive that zipped just wide.
From a set-piece, Preston’s big defender Patrick Bauer powered a header towards goal only for Ben Watson to save the day for Lamouchi’s side.
CHELSEA were the victims of a savage Mac-attack on their first trip to this part of Yorkshire for 14 years.
Strikers David McGoldrick and Oli McBurnie did the damage and repaid Blades boss Chris Wilder’s faith in them.
McGoldrick had gone 25 games without hitting the back of the net – not exactly the credentials to lead a Premier League forward line.
But like London buses, two suddenly arrived at once – to help make it an evening of complete embarrassment for the illustrious visitors.
Wilder appreciates the Republic of Ireland player’s prodigious work-rate and yesterday’s goal redemption finally arrived with the opening strike. McBurnie was last week banned from driving for 16 months after a drink driving offence and might have been surprised to have been involved yesterday.
But his brilliant header left the Blades in the driving seat and Chelsea chasing shadows.
McGoldrick could hardly believe his luck at the golden invitation to end his long personal goal drought.
George Baldock scurried into the box and his cross was met by a deflected volley from McBurnie which Kepa just managed to get a hand to – despite moving in the opposite direction. But ready to pounce from close range was the eager McGoldrick who hardly knew how to celebrate.
The 17th-minute opener was a shock to Frank Lampard’s side who had bossed possession and created the sharper chances, Christian Pulisic heading narrowly over from a dangerous ball from the adventurous defender Reece James.
Lampard himself scored the last time Chelsea were at Bramall Lane.
Bt this time around he was anxiously patrolling the technical area hoping to exert some influence on his Champions Leaguewannabes, who were having to do things the hard way.
Even harder when once again their defence