Preston's dream of reaching the Premiership suffered another dent as they
failed to hit the net for the third successive game.
But their agony presented a lifeline to Huddersfield, who gained a valuable
point in their fight for Division One survival.
Preston might have taken a third-minute lead, but all too often the strike
force tended to suffer in terms of the midfield battle.
On-loan striker Richard Cresswell was the one who presented the early danger
for the home side, latching on to Lee Cartwright's neat pass - but his header
was stopped by the Terriers' Belgian keeper Nico Vaesen.
In the second half Vaesen made a crucial save from the same player, turning
the ball round the post as Cresswell tried to race in and finish off from Iain
Anderson's searching free-kick.
At times the Terriers showed they could turn on the style. After 11 minutes a
Thomas Heary back pass found Dean Gorre, whose shot took a deflection before
flying high over the bar.
Probably the best first-half chance belonged to winger Paul McKenna. His low
cross on the half hour mark had Andy Booth hurting himself as he desperately
managed to clear the ball away and deny the incoming Rob Edwards from getting a
foot to the ball.
McKenna then tried his luck with a long-range speculative strike, his
speciality, but it drifted wide.
David Moyes' half-time pep talk seemed to have had an effect as Preston came
out with more fighting spirit for the second half.
Cresswell found himself at the centre of two great chances, the first was a
header from eight yards following Graham Alexander's good cross, then he shot
goalwards but saw his shot take a double deflection before going out for a
corner.
The Yorkshiremen showed they would not be beaten and sub Kevin Gallen could
have had his name on the scoresheet.
Ben Thornley, a former Manchester United player, provided the deep cross which
Gallen got a touch to - however Alexander was at the back and managed to deflect
away the danger.
Teams:
Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Kidd, Edwards, Murdock,
Cartwright (Barry-Murphy 75), Gregan, Rankine (Macken 61),
McKenna, Healy (Anderson 62), Cresswell.
Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Gunnlaugsson.
Booked: Murdock, Edwards.
Huddersfield: Vaesen, Heary, Dyson, Lucketti, Jenkins,
Armstrong, Holland, Gorre, Facey, Booth (Gallen 44), Thornley.
Subs Not Used: Margetson, Moses, Gray, Irons.
Booked: Dyson.
Att: 15,185
Ref: C Foy (St. Helens).
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