Preston continued their good form to beat a Nottingham Forest side who have now lost four on the trot.

The home side took the lead when the impressive Darren Carter crossed for Youl Mawene to head in on 50 minutes.

Andy Cole fired wide from six yards for Forest and they were punished for the miss when a sweeping move ended with Neil Mellor nodding in.

Mawene diverted Lee Martin's cross into his own net to give Preston a nervy finish but they held on for the win.

Preston manager Alan Irvine:
"The boys are absolutely delighted at the moment. They are full of themselves. But the players are sensible not to get carried away or anything.

"It's important the staff keep on demanding the very high standards from them. We need to keep on getting better.

"There's no way I would even be thinking about promotion at the moment, maybe when there are six games left, other than six games gone."

"It was an elementary mistake for the first goal and we find ourselves behind.

"It was as bad a goal as I have ever seen us give away , it is not as if it rocketed into the net.

"There are one or two who are not taking responsibility, it always seems to be someone else's fault."

Preston: Lonergan, Hart, Mawene, St. Ledger, Jones, Nicholson, Carter, McKenna, Sedgwick (Wallace 82), Parkin, Mellor (Elliott 86).
Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Jarrett, Whaley.

Goals: Mawene 50, Mellor 59.

Nottm Forest: Smith, Morgan (Chambers 80), Wilson, Breckin, Perch, Martin (Thornhill 80), Cohen, Moussi, McCleary, Cole (Tyson 72), Earnshaw.
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Sinclair.

Booked: Morgan.

Goals: Mawene 67 og.

Att: 13,145

Ref: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).