Just about the only thing capable of cheering up a dark, moody and sodden evening at the City Ground was three points. And Forest probably deserved them.
Swirling winds and torrents of rain are usually a nod to misery and silence at Forest, and as Preston passed rings around us in the opening minutes it was looking uncomfortably familiar.
But the visitors rarely followed up on their bright start, and our pace on the break offered an olive branch.
It was a turgid affair complete with scrappy tackles, balls disappearing into churning clouds of rain and ‘Pieman’ Parkin thrusting his bulging midriff into every challenge.
Forest did well to stay composed, even at the back, and the likes of Joel Lynch – a worthy scapegoat so many times previously – performed when it mattered most.
Preston are a strong side. They move the ball well, they are physical, and in their bloated centre forward they have a player surprisingly adept in his control – and lethal in his finishing.
I felt the first goal would prove crucial. A Preston opener would invite the usual collage of confusion and unrest, but on the night they were below par and a Forest opener held promise.
Chambers, Earnshaw and Cohen all came fairly close.
The raging winds and soaking rain subsided over half-time, excusing the Preston the task of battling against it the way Forest had. In the end it didn’t matter.
Earnshaw’s goal was an excellent team move, demonstrating perfectly the functional and satisfying football we have shown since the moment Tyson’s injury took long balls largely out of the occasion.
Cohen rescued something from nothing, Lynch’s dipping ball was exceptional, and Earnshaw’s header – while asking questions of the Preston defence – was buried with conviction.
The equaliser had to come from a corner. How the ball was allowed to bounce across the six-yard box I am not entirely sure, but bulbous Parkin’s zealous celebrations made the eventual winner especially satisfying.
It was purely the result of defensive calamity, but Earnshaw took it beautifully. And isn’t it about time we had a bit of good fortune?
The equaliser had rapped our knuckles, and the second goal thumped Preston squarely in the gut. The game was Forest’s thereafter.
We are made of slightly sterner stuff than we were before Christmas and we bossed possession admirably. Shrewd Davies and his delightfully obnoxious mind reeled down the clock.
Left-back Lynch dumped himself far over on the right hand side before the substitution, allowing for a long and pondering walk to the bench. Billy’s bouncing and shrieking made sure that McGugan and Earnshaw repeated the trick.
The fact that teams around us took points again leaves a sour aftertaste, but their wins only make it more important for us to be looking after ourselves.
This is a poor division, composed of at least 14 sides who have very little to choose between them. With a bit of fortune in terms of injuries, which we’re certainly due, we have a side more than capable of the 10-15 points that will secure safety.
Two more additions on the back of two mammoth wins would be a timely and crucial boost. Here’s to hoping.
