Preston blitzed Nottingham Forest with a wonderful first-half display to condemn the Reds to a fifth consecutive away defeat in the Championship.
Forest trailed to Ross Wallace's fine low 18-yard strike and Callum Davidson added number two from the spot after Chris Cohen pulled back Billy Jones.
A superb long-range Matt James effort made it 3-0 by half-time.
Dexter Blackstock's penalty after a Jones handball and Rob Earnshaw's strike made it 3-2 but Preston held on.
Preston manager Darren Ferguson: "It was an unbelievable performance in the first half. We didn't want half-time to come and it could have been more than three.
"But I was confident today and I'm not being arrogant. We've just annihilated a team who are third in the league.
"At home, if we are at it, we will give anybody a game."
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I was watching the warm-up and I was very concerned with the attitude.
"We got what we fully deserved in the first 45 minutes, which was absolutely nothing.
"The second 45 minutes, we probably deserved to get something from the game."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Preston
3-2
Nottm Forest
FT
(HT 3-0)
Wallace 20
Davidson (pen) 29
James 32
Blackstock (pen) 57
Earnshaw 76
Preston
01 Lonergan
03 Davidson yellow card
05 Mawene (Chilvers 41)
12 St. Ledger yellow card
19 Jones
07 Sedgwick (Treacy 82)
15 Coutts
23 James
25 Wallace yellow card
09 Brown
33 Mellor (Chaplow 80 yellow card)
Substitutes
22 Henderson,
02 Hart,
14 Chilvers,
04 Chaplow,
11 Carter,
16 Treacy,
35 Mayor
Nottm Forest
01 Camp
05 Morgan yellow card
06 Wilson yellow card
16 Gunter
07 Anderson (Adebola 80)
08 McGugan (Chambers 46)
15 Cohen
19 Moussi
17 McGoldrick
20 Boyd (Earnshaw 69)
23 Blackstock yellow card
Substitutes
21 Smith,
04 Chambers,
28 Majewski,
09 Adebola,
10 Earnshaw,
11 Tyson,
14 Garner
Ref: HaywoodAtt: 14,426
PRESTON
NOTTM FOREST
Possession
Preston48%
Nottm Forest52%
Attempts on target
Preston7
Nottm Forest7
Attempts off target
Preston7
Nottm Forest6
Corners
Preston2
Nottm Forest3
Fouls
Preston8
Nottm Forest12
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:00 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+4:20 Dexter Blackstock concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Lonergan. Direct free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
90:00+3:24 Effort on goal by Robert Earnshaw from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
90:00+1:56 David McGoldrick produces a cross, clearance by Billy Jones.
89:49 Effort on goal by Luke Chambers from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.
89:22 Lee Camp takes the free kick.
89:22 Booking Booking for Kelvin Wilson for unsporting behaviour.
89:21 Booking Richard Chaplow shown a yellow card.
89:10 Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Chaplow on Kelvin Wilson.
88:40 Shot from long range by Keith Treacy misses to the right of the goal.
88:08 Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
88:08 Booking The referee books Wes Morgan for unsporting behaviour.
87:57 Wes Morgan concedes a free kick for a foul on Callum Davidson.
87:21 Dele Adebola fouled by Richard Chaplow, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Camp restarts play with the free kick.
84:40 Booking Dexter Blackstock booked.
83:49 The ball is delivered by Robert Earnshaw, clearance by Liam Chilvers.
82:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sean St. Ledger by Dexter Blackstock. Direct free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
82:48 Chris Gunter delivers the ball, clearance made by Matthew James.
81:34 Substitution Keith Treacy joins the action as a substitute, replacing Chris Sedgwick.
80:51 Robert Earnshaw takes a shot. Sean St. Ledger gets a block in.
79:14 Free kick taken by Callum Davidson.
79:14 Substitution Neil Mellor leaves the field to be replaced by Richard Chaplow.
79:14 Substitution Paul Anderson leaves the field to be replaced by Dele Adebola.
79:14 Free kick awarded for a foul by Robert Earnshaw on Paul Coutts.
78:58 Robert Earnshaw takes a shot. Blocked by Sean St. Ledger.
78:10 Foul by Chris Brown on Kelvin Wilson, free kick awarded. Luke Chambers restarts play with the free kick.
77:13 Header by Chris Brown from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
76:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Wes Morgan on Chris Brown. Ross Wallace takes the direct free kick.
75:35 Assist by Dexter Blackstock.
75:35 GOAL - Robert Earnshaw:Preston 3 - 2 Nottm Forest Robert Earnshaw gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Preston 3-2 Nottm Forest.
75:10 Chris Brown produces a cross, save by Lee Camp.
74:56 Centre by Paul Anderson, Callum Davidson makes a clearance.
74:34 Centre by David McGoldrick.
73:20 Chris Sedgwick produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
70:46 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Lee Camp.
70:07 The official flags Robert Earnshaw offside. Andy Lonergan takes the indirect free kick.
68:51 Substitution Robert Earnshaw joins the action as a substitute, replacing George Boyd.
67:47 Shot from just outside the area by Dexter Blackstock goes over the bar.
66:29 Chris Cohen restarts play with the free kick.
66:29 Booking Callum Davidson receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
66:17 Chris Gunter fouled by Callum Davidson, the ref awards a free kick.
65:17 Shot from just outside the box by Chris Cohen goes over the bar.
65:01 Chris Cohen takes a shot. Billy Jones gets a block in.
64:41 The ball is swung over by Chris Sedgwick, Lee Camp makes a save.
63:52 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Brown. Lee Camp takes the indirect free kick.
62:59 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, Kelvin Wilson makes a clearance.
62:13 Chris Cohen takes the inswinging corner, save by Andy Lonergan.
60:45 Callum Davidson restarts play with the free kick.
60:45 Booking Ross Wallace goes into the referee's book.
60:37 Unfair challenge on Neil Mellor by Wes Morgan results in a free kick.
57:58 Paul Coutts takes a shot. Blocked by Wes Morgan.
57:34 The ball is crossed by Luke Chambers, Dexter Blackstock takes a shot. Save made by Andy Lonergan.
55:13 Billy Jones challenges Chris Cohen unfairly and gives away a Penalty.
54:46 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Save by Lee Camp.
53:22 Shot from just outside the box by Neil Mellor goes over the crossbar.
51:22 Chris Cohen takes the direct free kick.
51:22 Booking Sean St. Ledger receives a yellow card.
51:14 Sean St. Ledger concedes a free kick for a foul on David McGoldrick.
50:07 Chris Cohen delivers the ball, save by Andy Lonergan.
49:36 Luke Chambers crosses the ball.
48:44 The ball is delivered by Chris Cohen, George Boyd takes a shot. Blocked by Sean St. Ledger.
45:01 The second half begins.
45:01 Substitution (Nottm Forest) makes a substitution, with Luke Chambers coming on for Lewis McGugan.
Half Time
45:00+2:27 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
44:22 Effort from inside the area by Chris Brown misses to the left of the target.
42:52 Free kick awarded for a foul by Guy Moussi on Billy Jones. Ross Wallace produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
41:47 Effort from outside the penalty box by Lewis McGugan goes wide right of the goal.
40:20 Substitution Youl Mawene leaves the field to be replaced by Liam Chilvers.
40:20 Centre by Callum Davidson, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Chris Sedgwick misses to the left of the goal.
39:53 The ball is sent over by George Boyd, Sean St. Ledger makes a clearance.
37:52 Chris Gunter sends in a cross, clearance by Chris Brown.
37:04 Chris Cohen sends in a cross, clearance made by Youl Mawene. Corner taken by Lewis McGugan from the left by-line, Andy Lonergan makes a save.
36:38 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Wes Morgan gets a block in.
35:44 Centre by Ross Wallace.
34:56 The assistant referee flags for offside against Billy Jones. Lee Camp takes the free kick.
34:39 A cross is delivered by Ross Wallace, Wes Morgan makes a clearance.
34:32 The ball is crossed by Chris Brown.
31:42 The assist for the goal came from Ross Wallace.
31:42 GOAL - Matthew James:Preston 3 - 0 Nottm Forest Matthew James grabs a goal from just outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Preston 3-0 Nottm Forest.
29:43 Effort from inside the area by Paul Anderson misses to the left of the goal.
28:28 GOAL - Callum Davidson:Preston 2 - 0 Nottm Forest Penalty taken left-footed by Callum Davidson and scored. Preston 2-0 Nottm Forest.
26:36 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace, Foul by Chris Cohen on Billy Jones, Penalty awarded.
26:14 David McGoldrick is caught offside. Sean St. Ledger restarts play with the free kick.
25:53 The ball is swung over by George Boyd.
25:41 The ball is sent over by Paul Anderson.
25:10 A cross is delivered by Chris Gunter, clearance by Youl Mawene.
22:42 The official flags Dexter Blackstock offside. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
20:57 Chris Cohen challenges Chris Sedgwick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
19:32 The assist for the goal came from Neil Mellor.
19:32 GOAL - Ross Wallace:Preston 1 - 0 Nottm Forest Ross Wallace finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Preston 1-0 Nottm Forest.
18:35 Corner taken by Chris Cohen.
17:52 David McGoldrick takes a shot. Save made by Andy Lonergan.
16:24 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Lee Camp.
15:23 The assistant referee flags for offside against Paul Coutts. Free kick taken by Lee Camp.
14:47 Chris Brown fouled by Wes Morgan, the ref awards a free kick. Sean St. Ledger takes the direct free kick.
13:59 Chris Brown is ruled offside. Lee Camp takes the indirect free kick.
13:06 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dexter Blackstock on Billy Jones. Andy Lonergan takes the direct free kick.
8:57 Chris Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson. Kelvin Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
7:11 Chris Brown takes a shot. George Boyd gets a block in.
5:10 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Paul Coutts, Wes Morgan makes a clearance.
4:13 Paul Coutts fouled by Lewis McGugan, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ross Wallace.
4:02 Centre by Billy Jones, clearance made by Wes Morgan.
2:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Sedgwick on Chris Cohen. Lewis McGugan takes the free kick.
0:32 Callum Davidson produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Chris Brown misses to the left of the target.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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