Jayden Stockley helped Preston North End come from 1-0 down to earn a draw against fellow play-off hopefuls Nottingham Forest at Deepdale on Saturday.

Striker Lewis Grabban gave Forest the lead from the penalty spot inside five minutes after Nuno da Costa was fouled inside the area by North End's Ben Pearson.

However, it took Alex Neil's men just ten minutes to respond, as after a ball across the face of goal from Brad Potts, Stockley was on hand to score and draw the hosts level.

The game could have gone either way, but both teams, will have to settle for a point each.

  • Forest take an early lead

Despite Preston having the games first chance, when Scott Sinclair managed to feed Sean Maguire down the  left, his cross was brilliant, but Stockley couldn't take advantage as he fired over the bar, it was the visitors who took the lead.

Maguire lost the ball in the Forest half and they broke at speed, da Costa was played in down the left, Patrick Bauer was slow to react, the ball found its way back to da Costa who was brought down under the challenge of Pearson and the referee pointed to the spot.

Grabban stepped up and sent Declan Rudd the wrong way from twelve yards to give Forest the lead.

  • North End Respond Immediately

It only took Preston ten minutes to respond, Potts brought the ball down on the right, smashed a low ball across the face of the goal and Stockley was there to turn home and level the scores on 15 minutes.

  • North End could have taken a lead into the half time break

Preston could have taken the lead on 40 minutes, Joe Rafferty sent in a corner which both Andrew Hughes and Stockley attack, but neither could reach it, Maguire kept the ball alive at the back post, Bauer sent an header towards the goal, but the referee seemed to have spotted a foul and blew up for a Forest free-kick.

North End almost get off to a perfect start

Preston almost got off to the perfect start in the second half when Potts went close from the edge of the area, however, his effort could only go over the bar.

Moments later, Ben Watson had to put the ball behind for a corner, after Bauer looked to score from a free-kick taken by Ryan Ledson, but Watson cleared his header off the line.

Ledson then was forced into slicing an effort over the bar, at the other end, Watson crossed well from the right, Ryan Yates met his cross with an header which went wide of the target.

  • Preston had a great chance to take the lead

Stockley did well to flick the ball onto Potts who looked set to score only for some great defending from Carl Jenkinson with a superb block, before Ledson's corner was headed onto the edge of the box, Daniel Johnson fired an effort over the bar.

  • Chances at either end with ten minutes left

Forest began to get on top with ten minutes to go, when Tiago Silva collected the ball and fired his effort over the bar from 20 yards.

Paul Gallagher then played a superb ball over the top for Maguire to latch onto, but some great piece of goalkeeping from Brice Samba's trailing leg, from the corner, Bauer blasted an effort high and wide on the volley.

Tom Barkhuizen and Josh Harrop did well down the right and the latter pulled the ball back for Barkhuizen whose effort was deflected wide of target, just as we entered four minutes of added time.

The last chance of the game fell to Preston, Gallagher took the ball down on his chest before seeing a shot deflected over.