THE maths were very simple. Preston had to win and hope Burnley and Norwich lose.

So, given that North End realistically could only influence one of the above results, it seemed logical that the team would go out on the pitch, put on their best display of the season and do all they can to get the fourth playoff place.

Doesn't it?

Quite a surprise then that for the first 45 minutes the largest crowd Deepdale has welcomed this season was treated to one of the worst performances to date. The attack seemed stranded thanks to a midfield left chasing shadows and struggling to even pass the ball.

Maybe the toll of the long season has been too much. But there was still a playoff place riding on the result.

Apart from an early header from Clyde Wijnhard from a Paul McKenna cross, North End seemed impotent up front.

And a referee who was woefully inadequete at controlling the game - pulling players up for the most minor of offences but apparently blind to handballs and seemingly intent to penalise the team whose player had been fouled - only served to provoke the boos at half time.

By half time, North End were 1-0 down after Marlon Harewood beat the defence and left Tepi Moilanen stranded to shoot Forest into the lead.

Jack Lester had squared the ball to him. Had Harewood been more accurate in first half injury time then North End would have had a real battle on their hands.

Despite the arrival of Iain Anderson - on for injured Dickson Etuhu who was the best of a poor bunch in midfield in the opening 45 -in the second half, North End still failed to spark into life.

So much so in fact that the tannoy announcement 'Would the Forest fan blowing a whistle please stop because it is spoiling the game' raised the loudest cheer of the game. That was assuming there was a game to spoil.

But Kelham O'Hanlon responded to the lacklustre performance by bringing on Mark Rankine and David Healy for Michael Keane and Wijnhard, who wasted a great chance before going off.

Healy nearly pulled the home side level within five minutes getting on to the pitch, but it was Rankine who actually found the back of the net.

He fired from inside the penalty area after being set up by Richard Cresswell.

Then with two minutes to go, David Healy sent in a cracking cross from the right hand side which Cresswell converted from six yards.

It saved North End's blushes - but also showed there is work to be done over the summer.

PNE 2

NOTTS FOREST 1