Preston North End slipped to a 3-0 defeat away to an in-form Nottingham Forest side on a freezing cold December night at the City Ground.

A spectacular Paul McKenna strike and a goal from Dele Adabola gave Forest took a 2-0 lead into half-time, but Preston came out much improved at the start of the second half. Their efforts failed to yield any reward though, as the dogged Forest defence gave them little chance to get back into things.

The Lilywhites rallied, but Forest settled things through substitute Lewis McGugan's 81st minute strike making it 3-0.

Alan Irvine made two changes to the side that were victorious against Plymouth last week, with Billy Jones and Chris Sedgwick both earning starts. Jones returned from injury to replace Eddie Nolan at right back whilst Sedgwick came into the midfield at the expense of Jon Parkin.

North End kicked off the match at the City Ground, but it was the home side who showed signs of threatening early on. Adebola failed to get a shot away after pouncing on a loose ball, thanks to some great pressure from Billy Jones at right back, who wasn't going to be intimidated by the big striker in the fourth minute.

As expected, Forest piled on the pressure early on, with two corners in succession. The second of which came about after McKenna swung in a looping cross from deep on the right that looked destined to be met by a red shirt, but Neil Collins was on hand to clear at the crucial moment.

Preston's first chance came on the ten minute mark and came courtesy of Michael Tonge, who was looking eager to get his first PNE goal. Unfortunately for the travelling fans, his shot was well blocked by a scrambling Forest defence.

Billy Davies' side retaliated almost immediately, capitalising on a mix up in the North End defence to win a corner. Majewski put his cross straight on Wes Morgan's head at the far post, but it wasn't a free header, and the ball bounced off the side netting.

It was one of these Forest corners that led to the opener. McKenna was the man who scored the goal in the 15th minute, and what a goal it was. On his first game against his former club, the midfielder ran onto Andy Lonergan's clearence from 30 yards out and hit a brilliantly placed shot down low into the PNE keeper's bottom right hand corner.

Preston's loyal travelling support were nearly given something to cheer minutes later though, as Ross Wallace's quick thinking created an opening for the away side. The Scotsman set up Chaplow for a long range effort, and his scuffed shot found Parry on the left, but the winger's teasing cross just evaded the onrushing Preston attack.

Just as things were starting to to look up for Preston, they slipped further behind. This time it was striker Adebola who got his name on the scoresheet in the 25th minute. The ball was whipped in from Shorey on the left and met calmly and simply by Adebola at the far post, who sidefooted the ball home, leaving Preston in a tricky position at 2-0 down.

North End's five man midfield were as ever trying their best to get them back into it. Chaplow and Wallace both fired wide as the game crept past the half hour mark, but none managed to test the Forest goalkeeper, Lee Camp.

With just five minutes left in the half, the returning Jones had what was undoubtedly Preston's best chance of the game so far. The full back was quickest to react after a scramble in the box, and managed to get his shot on target, but Camp somehow pushed it out for a corner.

This was to be North End's last chance of the half, which ended 2-0 to Forest, and left them with a tough task in the second half.

With the manager's words still ringing in their ears, North End came flying out of the traps. Wallace found Chaplow on the left hand side who crossed it into a box full of white shirts. Unfortunately it evaded everybody, but it definitely a sign of intent from PNE.

Much like Forest in the first half, Preston tried to apply pressure from the wide areas, mainly the left. On the 50 minute mark Chris Brown was inches short of nodding a Wallace cross in, with the home defence caught flat footed.

The gaffer felt a change was needed though, and made a double substitution on the hour mark. Neil Mellor and 'the beast' Jon Parkin came on for Parry and Brown, and Preston reverted back to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation.

With North End trying to build momentum at one end they were nearly made to pay at the other. Rob Earnshaw had broken through on the counter, and Preston had Andy Lonergan to thank for the scores staying 2-0. For the second time in the match the keeper came in on top in a one-on-one against Earnshaw, saving magnificently at the striker's feet.

It was to be Earnshaw's last involvment, as he was replaced by McGugan in the 77th minute.

This proved tp be an inspired substitution and North End's fate seemed to be sealed with 81 minutes on the clock, as McGugan fired a shot home from eight yards out after being slid through making it 3-0.