[themaclad]

After the international break to quote Swedish rock band, Europe, "It's the final countdown" eight games five weeks and by the weekend after next North End will have a good idea whether it will be game on or beach towels out. Three games in a week all vitally important Florets, Brizzle and Marching all together in seven days.
First up the Trees who find themselves in deep guano at the wrong end of the table, they have an owner the fans hate don't appear to have a lot of money although just lobbed out £3.5 million for Zach Clough from Bolton also probably paying McCormack a hefty wedge whilst on loan from Villa.
Ad to this they have yet another new manager Mark City Boy Warburton who left those from the blue side in Glasgow to take up residence by the Trent, to be fair to him actually think he is a decent manager although he speaks like the City Trader he used to be, his sides always play a certain way on the ground, ball to feet.
As I said Forest have had a poor season their main problem is they do not seem to be able to defend although last two away games they have only let in one. They have played one match under Warburton they drew 2-2 with local rivals Derby. Going forward they are not bad with the likes of Assombalonga, Clough and teenage prodigy Brereton who seems to have taken over the mantle left by Ollie Burke.
They will have had two weeks to prepare for this game and this makes it a more difficult game than it previously might have been especially given Forest's predicament.
Given the lift we had following McGeady's late goal at Deadwood it is just a pity momentum may have stalled following the break, never easy to get going again after a break but should have a more or less fully fit squad may even have a right back or two fit.
Interesting game this one both sides need to win.

[themaclad]

The play off dream gets just a little further away after dropping two points against a Forest side who will probably slightly disappointed that they didn't sneak all three having dominated most of the first half and looked like the only side in the last ten minutes or so who looked to be more likely to score.
A bright first 10 minutes for the home Gallagher, Barkuizen and Hugill had chances which didn't go in then it was all Forest, they passed the ball around and made North End chase shadows, wasn't long till they went ahead Clough ran at the defence ball through to Assombalonga 1-0 Forest.
At the back North End were struggling with young winger Brereton having a field day down the right, looks a talent this lad, also Forest's 433 was working well with Vaughan having a big influence in front of the Forest back line.The visitors did get lucky when Smith spilled a simple cross luckily though Fox cleared the danger. North End did well to get through to half time only one down, ball retention by the home side was woeful, on the stroke of half time Gallagher almost gave away a penalty, his foul being a fraction outside the box.
Two substitutions at half time for the home side as North End went 352, it brought an almost immediate response as one of the substitutres Robinson did well to get the ball through to McGeady who hot a first time snap shot past Smith, game on but the early momentum disappered and mistakes a plenty by both sides made for a scrappy period of pLay
Osborn went narrowly wide for Forest who also had a free kick just ouside the box which Assombalonga hammered into the Forest fans behind the goal. Forest withdrew Assombalonga, Clough and Brereton and I thought they were perhaps shutting up shop. Wrong as per normal Forest pushed on looking for a winner which would get them away from the danger area, we survived a couple of goal mouth scrambles possibly nearly gave a penalty away and when Ward whacked a free kick into the crowd there went Forest's last chance of victory.
Decent game but with Fulham going above Wednesday play offs chances now seemto be drifting away.

Preston North End 1 Nottingham Forest 1 Att 12400

Preston manager Simon Grayson: "We started the game very brightly with some good opportunities. We just didn't take them when the opportunities came along.

"But then you've got to give Forest credit for what a good team they are. They passed it around, caused us a lot of problems, and got the goal which they deserved.

"We're disappointed that we've not won the game because obviously that's what we set out to do, but who knows - it could be still a vital point come the end of the season."

Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton: "It says something for the quality of the squad, they're disappointed to be going away feeling we've dropped two points as opposed to earning a point.

"They've got good quality. There's no doubt about the quality within the ranks, there's no doubt about their work ethic and their desire.

"It's just a little bit of belief to know how good they can be and I think you saw in that period what they can produce and it's now about getting that on a regular basis."