A RICHARD CRESSWELL equaliser six minutes before half time was enough to give Preston a deserved away point at Nottingham Forest.

The visitors started well and almost took a shock lead in the opening exchanges, when good build up play between Paul McKenna and Jonathan Macken led to the latter shooting just wide.

However, it was Forest who took the lead after seven minutes when Nicky Summerbee fed England Under-19 Captain Jermaine Jenas, who cleverly turned his marker and curled a shot past David Lucas.

The home team then seemed to relax, allowing a chance for Macken who shot just wide from a throw-in.

Sprung back into life, Forest then almost doubled their lead after 35 minutes when Summerbee sent a cross in to the visitors' box. With Lucas failing to clear, the loose ball was eventually hacked clear from the line by Graham Alexander.

Alexander was also instrumental in Preston's equaliser four minutes later, driving down the flank before crossing. Cresswell rose high above the Forest defence to score with a header past the diving Darren Ward.