A below-par Nottingham Forest came away with a point as they drew 0-0 with Preston North End at Deepdale.
Steve Cooper’s side were far from at their best against the Lilywhites, struggling to create much by way of chances and coming under intense pressure for long spells.
But they stood firm at the back - riding their luck on occasions - to ensure they came away with something to show for their efforts in the north west.
Having not played for 10 days, since the 2-2 draw with Stoke City, the visitors were quick out of the blocks as they started well.
Forest looked bright and lively in the opening 10 minutes, but they dropped off as the first half went on and started to invite pressure from Preston.
Keinan Davis argued he should have had a penalty with 10 minutes on the clock, going down under a challenge from Sepp Van Den Berg. Referee Geoff Eltringham, though, waved away his angry appeals.
Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was making his first appearance for the Reds since September, stepping in for the suspended Brice Samba.
He didn’t have a great deal to do in the opening exchanges, with Ched Evans and Brad Potts firing off target, and a big block from Ryan Yates getting in the way of an Andrew Hughes volley. That one seemed to knock the wind out of the midfielder, such was the ferocity with which the ball was hit.
For all the possession North End had for much of the first half, it wasn't until the 35th minute that Horvath was called into action.
The American had thwarted Cameron Archer as he dived at his feet with 20 minutes gone, then he pulled off a smart stop as half-time neared, getting behind a driven effort from Alan Browne from inside the box.
His counterpart at the opposite end of the pitch had a fairly quiet opening 45 minutes, too.
The closest Forest came to a breakthrough was in the 26th minute, when Davis powered down the left flank and squared the ball for James Garner, who fired straight at Daniel Iversen.
Horvath was called into action early in the second half, with Archer stinging his palms from inside the area. And the Preston man missed a huge chance almost immediately after, firing wide after being put clean-through.
The visitors meanwhile, were struggling to get a grip on the game and were lacking in ideas.
It wasn’t until the final minutes when they offered something going forward, with Djed Spence tearing down the wing and putting a cross across the face of goal. It summed up the Reds’ night that nobody was there to knock it home as the game finished a point apiece.
Here’s how Reds reporter Sarah Clapson rated the Forest players at Deepdale.
Ethan Horvath: Can be pleased with the clean-sheet. Had to make some good saves as the hosts applied plenty of pressure. Distribution wasn't always the best, but could have done with more help from his defenders at times. Rating: 7/10
Joe Worrall: Not quite his usual steady self. Forest found Cameron Archer, in particular, a difficult prospect to deal with. A few too many nervy moments for the defence as a whole, but still shut out the opposition. Rating: 5.5/10
Steve Cook: Had a few difficult moments, and a rush of blood at the opposite end when he went for goal from a long way out. Forest will be pleased to have kept the hosts at bay, though - they had to work hard for it. Rating: 5.5/10
Scott McKenna: Had to be on his toes to try to keep tabs on the hosts. Back line had a few wobbly moments, but worked hard to keep the clean-sheet. Rating: 6/10
Djed Spence: An unusually quiet performance by the Middlesbrough loanee, who didn’t offer his usual threat. Barely stretched his legs down that right flank until the final minutes - and the Reds badly needed more of that. Rating: 5.5/10
Jack Colback: Midfield was overrun for much of the game as the visitors struggled to deal with their opponents' press. Needed somebody to get a grip on proceedings. Rating: 5/10
Ryan Yates: Chipped in with an important block before the break to deny Andrew Hughes. As a team, though, the Reds never really imposed themselves on the match. Rating: 5/10
Max Lowe: Threat of both wing-backs was largely nullified by the hard work of the hosts. Had his work cut out defensively, too, on an evening which largely made for difficult viewing. Rating: 5.5/10
James Garner: At least worked the goalkeeper, getting on the end of Davis' cross in the first half. Didn't really work playing him further up the pitch on this occasion, though, as Forest were flat. Rating: 5/10
Brennan Johnson: Needed to get into the game more. Preston had clearly done their homework on smothering the Spence-Johnson link-up as it barely got going on a night where Forest lacked ideas. Rating: 5/10
Keinan Davis: Involved in Forest's two best moments in the first half, with a penalty appeal and setting up a chance for Garner. The rest of the evening was tough going as the ball struggled to stick. Rating: 5.5/10
Subs
Sam Surridge (for Davis, 81mins): Didn’t really get into the game, with Spence’s late run a case of too little, too late for the visitors. Rating: 5/10
Subs not used: Smith, Zinckernagel, Figueiredo, Mighten, Cafu, Lolley.
