Preston recorded a fine win 1-0 away at Nottingham Forest as a first-half strike by Pawel Abbott earned North End all three points.
Forest started the stronger of the two side's but struggled to break through, while Paul McKenna and Lee Cartwright went close for the visitors.
Forest's early pressure was being thwarted by a resilient Preston midfield. Young academy player Gregor Robertson showed his quality and skill with a mazy run before giving possession to Stephen McPhail whose shot deflected wide.
On 14 minutes Preston took possession with McKenna firing in a low drive with Gavin Ward managing a fingertip save.
Preston took control of the game. Mathieu Louis-Jean headed away for a corner and on 19 minutes Colin Healey fired in a shot, but Ward comfortably saved.
Healey then shot from the edge of the busy area on 21 minutes but Gareth Williams managed to deflect the shot for another corner to Preston.
On 36 minutes Abbott gave Preston the lead from a free kick conceded by John Thompson.
Forest continue to try and put pressure on the Preston goal without any luck. Paul Hart made a tactical change in the second half putting Andy Reid in the centre of midfield with McPhail on the left.
Preston continued to put pressure on the Forest defence and goal and Ward made a fine save on 50 minutes keeping out Abbott.
Two minutes later Abbott headed over the bar. Forest then hit back with Reid crossing to Gareth Taylor, who could only direct his header over the bar.
Thompson then picked up the ball 10 yards in the Preston half before bursting through and firing his shot just wide of the post.
On 75 minutes Cartwright's shot from an angle was just kept out by the hands of Ward. Healey and Abbott then both tried their luck with shots. Healey's being blocked by Ward and Abbott's being cleared off the line.
Taylor's shot from 25 yards went wide, while McPhail on loan from Leeds United, had a clear strike on goal but shot over the bar.
Both Reid and Harewood had penalties turned down late on as Forest pushed forward.
Forest piled on the pressure late on in the game with four corners in as many minutes without success but could not break the visitors down.