An early strike from Eoin Doyle has sent Preston North End into the break with a slender lead over Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

The home side took just three minutes to break the deadlock as the striker raced clear of the Forest defence and slid the ball beyond Dorus de Vries at the second attempt.

Forest staged their first attack in the seventh minute when Eric Lichaj shot over from the edge of the box, before Joe Garner narrowly missed the target with a header one minute later.

The visitors struggled to create chances in the first period, but came close in the 24th minute when Jamie Ward shot on the turn, Preston goalkeeper Jordan Pickford parrying his strike at full stretch.

Ward came even closer six minutes before half time, crashing an effort against the Preston crossbar as Forest finished the half on the front foot.