Struggling Sheffield Wednesday produced an excellent defensive display to earn
a crucial point at Preston.
Billy Davies' play-off chasers had most of the possession, but they rarely
outfoxed Wednesday's back four and had to settle for a ninth home draw of the
Championship campaign.
Wednesday goalkeeper Nicky Weaver denied David Nugent three times in as many
second-half minutes, but apart from that the on-loan Manchester City man was not
tested.
And had Chris Eagles and Chris Brunt been more composed in front of goal, Paul
Sturrock's team could even have gained their first league win at Deepdale since
1960.
Preston enjoyed more of the early possession, but Wednesday - 22nd in the
Championship to Preston's ninth at the start of play - had the first two shots
on goal.
Steve Adams' weak effort was saved easily by Carlo Nash in the ninth minute,
and North End defender Claude Davis made a fine block to take the sting out of
Burton O'Brien's 20-yard effort four minutes later.
But the home side gradually forced Wednesday back. Frank Simek did well to
deflect Lewis Neal's cross-shot behind for a corner following neat work on the
left by Nugent.
Preston should have taken the lead in the 17th minute, Chris Sedgwick stabbing
over the bar from six yards after Nugent's close-range effort had struck Simek
and fallen into his path.
Sedgwick was involved again 10 minutes later, racing onto Neal's through pass
and forcing the covering Richard Wood to make a perfectly-timed tackle to
concede a corner.
Preston looked the likelier scorers, but the Owls reminded their hosts they
could pose an attacking threat themselves in the 31st minute, when Graham
Coughlan headed wide from Eagles' inviting left-wing free-kick.
Eight minutes later, Brunt found himself in plenty of room after Barry Corr's
flick-on, but the young winger shot first time over the Preston bar from 20
yards when he should have controlled the ball and advanced on Nash's goal.
Defences continued to hold sway after the break, but Weaver made the first
serious save of the match after 58 minutes when he parried Nugent's drive from
the edge of the box and pushed the England Under-21 striker's follow-up effort
behind for a corner.
Two minutes later, Weaver foiled Nugent again, blocking his angled left-footed
effort from 10 yards.
Although Wednesday looked dangerous on the break, they were content to sit
deep. Eagles had fired just over in the 52nd minute, but Nash was given few
other worries.
Teams:
Preston Nash, Alexander, Mawene, Davis, Hill,
Sedgwick (Mears 81), O'Neil (Nowland 61), Jones, Lewis Neal,
Dichio (Agyemang 62), Nugent.
Subs Not Used: Lucketti, Hibbert.
Sheff Wed Weaver, Simek, Coughlan, Wood, Gilbert, Eagles,
Whelan, Adams, O'Brien, Brunt (Graham 71), Corr (Peacock 79).
Subs Not Used: Hills, Diallo, Partridge.
Booked: Corr.
Att: 18,867
Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).
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