PRESTON go into probably the biggest game of the season so far desperate for

a goal.

North End, who occupy the final play-off spot, welcome the team just below

them Nottingham Forest to Deepdale tomorrow in a real six-pointer.

David Platts side currently trail Preston by two points and victory for the

home side would give them a five point cushion over Forest with a game in

hand.

But North End have gone more than five hours without a goal and manager

David Moyes knows his side need to find their scoring boots if they are to

continue their push for a top six spot.

I think everybody is aware of what this game means or what it could mean,

said the Deepdale boss. That alone should give the game an edge tomorrow.

Whether it is the biggest game we will have to see, there may be bigger

games before the end of the season.

But I do not think there will be nerves or anxiety. There is a little bit

of pressure as we want to stay in the top half of the table where we have

been all season but real pressure is when you are fighting against

relegation. Whatever happens we have achieved a lot in a short space of time to be in

this position and I think it is an excellent achievement.

Moyes dropped top scorer Jon Macken to the bench for Tuesdays goalless

encounter with Huddersfield, leaving David Healy and Richard Cresswell to

hunt for that elusive goal.

Jon was fine with that. He knows he has been off colour of late and there

were strikers, good ones, waiting for an opportunity.

Whether he sticks with the same attacking formation will wait until tomorrow

but Preston could be boosted in defence by the return of defender Michael

Jackson.

Jackson has missed the last two games with a back injury but Moyes is hoping

an injection will reduce the swelling and give the former Bury man a chance

of starting against Forest.

And Moyes will be keen to keep all his players on the pitch tomorrow after

the incidents at the City Ground earlier in the season.

Preston lost 3-1 but both defenders Colin Murdock and Graham Alexander were

sent off while Moyes raced into the stands after the game to approach the

referees assessor.

The first game was to do with the referee not anything else. The tempers

frayed because of the performance of the referee. I am hoping we have a

referee better than Barry Knight for this game, added Moyes. And Preston then make the trip to in-form Barnsley on Monday as the charge

for the final play-off places hots up.

The Tykes have won four of their last five games and Nigel Spackman is

looking for a top half of the table finish after a disappointing season.

Barnsley missed out on a return to the Premiership last season by just 90

minutes after losing to Ipswich at Wembley but an indifferent start led to

the parting of ways with Dave Bassett before Spackman took over in January.

They have come good and so it will be another tough game for us, said

Moyes.