Preston North End take a look at Championship opponents Nottingham Forest ahead of PNE’s return to the second tier.
The plans were all set for Forest for the 2014/15 campaign – Club legend Stuart Pearce was finally taking over after Forest revealed he’d take the hot-seat earlier in the previous season.
He was to be backed by the wealthy Al Hasawi family as Forest had aspirations of returning to the big time for the first time in 16 years.
But unfortunately for all concerned, it didn’t work out for Notts Forest and Pearce. After a decent enough start with Forest unbeaten in their first 11 games, things started to go sour – with Pearce's side dropping down the table,ultimately costing him his job at the start of February.
His replacement, Dougie Freedman had a decent enough start to his Forest reign, enough to keep him in the job for this season, and to give Forest fans causes for optimism going into another year for the Club.
Head to Head
Preston: 39
Draw: 25
Notts Forest: 31
Barring Play-Off disappointment, the 2009/10 season for Forest marked a promising one for the red-half of Nottingham, with the club finishing third in the Championship, their highest in years.
The same couldn’t be said for North End, who concluded the same season in 17th place having achieved a top six finish the year before.
But the 13th March 2010 marked a day for the Lilywhites who saw off Forest after stunning Billy Davies’ side in the first-half.
Ross Wallace got the ball rolling in the 20th minute who scored from the edge of the box, and he was joined on the score sheet by Callum Davidson who converted from the spot-kick.
Just after the half hour mark Matthew James made it three, meaning there was much to be said in the Forest dressing room at half-time.
But the away side responded in the perfect manner with Dexter Blackstock and Robert Earnshaw reducing the deficit to one, but North End held on to a much needed victory.
The Stadium
Situated on the banks of the River Trent, it has been home to Nottingham Forest since 1898.
Since then, the stadium has welcomed home a couple of European Cups as well as overseeing a League title, and FA and League Cups.
With a capacity of 30,576, the City Ground is the 24th largest football stadium in the country.
Played for Both
A huge 31 players have represented Preston North End and Nottingham Forest through the years, including more recently the likes of Paul Mckenna, Brian O’Neill, and Brett Ormerod.
Who can forget Joe Garner? Who was signed by Forest for a seven figure fee, before all of his exploits at North End.
Sir Tom Finney’s understudy Eric Jones also played for both, and he’s joined by both Archie and Scot Gemmill who lined up for both sides during their playing days.
He was to be backed by the wealthy Al Hasawi family as Forest had aspirations of returning to the big time for the first time in 16 years.
But unfortunately for all concerned, it didn’t work out for Notts Forest and Pearce. After a decent enough start with Forest unbeaten in their first 11 games, things started to go sour – with Pearce's side dropping down the table,ultimately costing him his job at the start of February.
His replacement, Dougie Freedman had a decent enough start to his Forest reign, enough to keep him in the job for this season, and to give Forest fans causes for optimism going into another year for the Club.
Head to Head
Preston: 39
Draw: 25
Notts Forest: 31
Barring Play-Off disappointment, the 2009/10 season for Forest marked a promising one for the red-half of Nottingham, with the club finishing third in the Championship, their highest in years.
The same couldn’t be said for North End, who concluded the same season in 17th place having achieved a top six finish the year before.
But the 13th March 2010 marked a day for the Lilywhites who saw off Forest after stunning Billy Davies’ side in the first-half.
Ross Wallace got the ball rolling in the 20th minute who scored from the edge of the box, and he was joined on the score sheet by Callum Davidson who converted from the spot-kick.
Just after the half hour mark Matthew James made it three, meaning there was much to be said in the Forest dressing room at half-time.
But the away side responded in the perfect manner with Dexter Blackstock and Robert Earnshaw reducing the deficit to one, but North End held on to a much needed victory.
The Stadium
Situated on the banks of the River Trent, it has been home to Nottingham Forest since 1898.
Since then, the stadium has welcomed home a couple of European Cups as well as overseeing a League title, and FA and League Cups.
With a capacity of 30,576, the City Ground is the 24th largest football stadium in the country.
Played for Both
A huge 31 players have represented Preston North End and Nottingham Forest through the years, including more recently the likes of Paul Mckenna, Brian O’Neill, and Brett Ormerod.
Who can forget Joe Garner? Who was signed by Forest for a seven figure fee, before all of his exploits at North End.
Sir Tom Finney’s understudy Eric Jones also played for both, and he’s joined by both Archie and Scot Gemmill who lined up for both sides during their playing days.