Chilvers had been given the nod to replace Youl Mawene in the heart of defence, for the first game of the new campaign as he partnered man of the match Sean St Ledger at the back.

The two new recruits made their first appearances in the Championship and they will have been pleased with a clean sheet on their full debut, they were joined in the starting lineup by the other summer signing Danny Pugh.

Paul Simpson opted for the traditional 4-4-2 formation with Danny Dichio partnering David Nugent in attack.

North End's first shot on goal came in the seventh minute when Graham Alexander's ball from the left swung across the box and landed at Sean St. Ledger's feet, the centre-back spun and smashed a ball at goal that Brad Jones did well to gather, at the second attempt.

David Nugent went in to the referee's notebook in the 11th minute when he was adjudged to have handballed and he backheeled the ball away in disgust for which the yellow card was shown.

Nugent almost got his revenge a couple of minutes later with two half chances, the first when he chased down a high and hopeful ball and almost beat keeper Jones to the punch and then he picked up a ball on the edge of the box, threatened to hit it on the volley but he dragged it down and his powerful shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Wednesday had a decent opportunity in the 25th minute when Coughlan played a ball over the top for McLean to chase and it sprung North End's offside trap, Nash had to sprint to the edge of his box and improvise to avert the danger, fancy footwork from the big keeper.

Preston's best chance of the game so far came in the 27th minute and it came through the Bury connection. Simon Whaley picked the ball up on the edge of his own penalty area and set off towards the opposition goal. He got about 30 yards out and flicked a ball into the path of Nugent who was clean through, onside and had just the keeper to beat, his diagonal shot fizzed across the face of goal, inches wide of Jones' far post.

Glenn Whelan picked up a yellow card in the 28th minute when he took Pugh out with a swipe of a challenge as North End looked for a quick break.

Simon Whaley had a decent opportunity in the 32nd minute when the ball pinged about the box with the two teams playing head tennis, the ball span towards Whaley and he hit it first time on the volley and over the bar. He probably had more time than he thought.

Jason Jarrett caused a bit of discomfort to a former PNE loanee in the 37th minute when he put in a stiff challenge on Yoann Folly, the French midfielder needing plenty of treatment on the sidelines before returning to play.

Another half chance for the Owls came in the 42nd minute, Bullen flicked on a Simek throw in the box and the ball fell to Whelan 12 yards out, the Irish midfielder's shot went high and wide.

Wednesday had the ball in the back of the net in the first minute of first half injury time. The Wednesday fans around the ground were up of their feet but though the linesman kept his flag down the referee had spotted a blatant handball and though Chris Brunt's shot was well lobbed over Carlo Nash the goal did not stand.

Preston had a fantastic opportunity in the opening minute of the second half, Matt Hill found acres of space on the left and he delivered the perfect ball in to Dave Nugent, he was there with a free header ten yards out but his header was straight at the keeper.

Danny Dichio had a great chance in the 52nd minute, Matt Hill played a speculative ball over the top and it was left to Bougherra and Dichio to chase the ball down, Dichio came out of it the right side and he was one on one with the keeper, Jones did well though to deny the big striker his first league goal in Preston colours.

Sheffield Wednesday were down to 10 men in the 57th minute, Lee Bullen put in two consecutive strong challenges, firstly on Danny Pugh and then on Matt Hill. The referee, perhaps harshly, deemed either both or one of them too strong and showed him a straight red card.

A couple of injury delays slowed the game down for a few minutes before Patrick Agyemang came on for Danny Dichio in the 66th minute.

Matty Hill picked up a yellow card on 70 minutes for a late challenge on Glenn Whelan.

ON 74 minutes Paul Simpson sent some fresh legs on when he sent on Brian Stock to replace Jason Jarrett.

Two minutes late Kelvin Wilson replaced Matt Hill as North End shuffled their defence, Alexander moving to left-back.

Wednesday made a substitution in the 80th minute when McLean left the field to be replaced by Wade Small.

In the 87th minute North End had the ball in the back of the net, it was Liam Chilvers who bundled the ball home from a Pugh corner on the right, but as North End's fans were dancing in the stands the referee had already blown his whistle for a free kick, judging that Chilvers had pushed his marker.

One minute later and the final change of the afternoon saw Chris Brunt replaced by McAllister for the Owls.

But that only strengthened Wednesday's defensive resolve and the game fizzled out for the second 0-0 draw at Deepdale in consecutive seasons.