Chris Cohen looked to have been the injury time hero for Nottingham Forest after brave resistance from Preston North End but the visitors took advantage of a wealth of injury time to level the game through Jones and allow Swansea and Cardiff to leapfrog the Reds.
28,310 ensured a nervous night at the City Ground as Nicholson put the visitors in front before Paul Konchesky's 54th minute equaliser.
Reaction to follow to a dramatic night.