Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton was relieved to register a “really big win” as his side beat Preston North End 1-0 at Deepdale.
Lewis Grabban’s second half penalty proved the difference between the two sides as the Reds started 2021 by making it five games unbeaten.
They had been the better side in the first half without having anything to show for their efforts, but rode their luck a little as the hosts twice hit the crossbar and Brice Samba made a couple of crucial saves.
Forest had been in the Championship relegation zone before kick-off, and moved up to 19th with the victory behind them.
“It feels like a really big win, because we are away from home and because of the run we are on and where we are in the league - which is not a comfortable position to be in, I must admit,” Hughton said.
“We have found it tough to get wins, so I’m really pleased.
“I do think we got a bit of luck.
“The first half performance was really good, but the frustration was we went in at half-time 0-0.
“When you’ve had a performance like that, you really want some value in it, as regards a lead.
“You know the second half is going to be different, because the opposition are going to be better in the first half.
“But I think over the 90 minutes it was a well deserved win.
“Sometimes you just need that bit of luck. The goalkeeper’s had to make a couple of really good saves and they hit the crossbar.
“We got the penalty, which was a penalty, just at the right time.”
Referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot with little more than 20 minutes to go, when a shot from Cafu was judged to have been blocked by a handball.
Preston boss Alex Neil felt Grabban had taken a couple of touches for the spot-kick, but Hughton says the Reds front man slipped as he went to hit the ball.
“At the time, I couldn’t see and you can’t see from the camera angle we’ve got,” he said.
“But what I’ve been told is, yes, he did slip, but it wasn’t two touches on the ball. He slipped and he’s actually kicked himself.
“That’s what I’ve been told.
“It came at a big time and he took it really well.
“We’ve had a few games where we have deserved more than we’ve got, so it was good to get the win.”
