PNE continued their unbeaten start to the new Championship season after an exciting tussle at the Ricoh Arena somehow failed to produce a goal for either side.

The post-match analysis will heap statistical praise on both goalkeepers after they produced a fine string of saves to deny some near certain chances, with Preston's Andy Lonergan and his Coventry counterpart Keiren Westwood both prime contenders for the man of the match award.

After a lively but event-free opening ten minutes, Leon Best stabbed the first notable strike of the game towards goal, but his cross-cum-shot was turned away from danger as Billy Jones stretched to cut out the delivery.

An immediate counter was led by Chris Sedgwick, who made an impressive start to the game, and having cut across a surprised Isaac Osbourne he came close to opening the game's account with a curling shot that narrowly cleared Keiren Westwood's bar.

The Mellor and Parkin strike combination that showed great promise against Charlton continued to offer much to North End's attacking aspirations, with the new signing feeding his attacking colleague well on numerous occasions.

His first telling through ball to send Mellor away only failed to cause trouble for the home side because Isaac Osbourne recovered excellently to track back and smother the PNE striker's run, and a later headed through ball was turned powerfully, left-footed, towards Westwood's goal, only for the keeper to dive to his right and block.

Coventry offered chances of their own in a half that typified the frantic nature of Championship football, with flowing moves and genuine chances materialising at both ends.

Both Youl Mawene and Sean St Ledger had to throw their bodies in the way of consecutive shots from experienced second tier campaigner Clinton Morrison, while another of the Sky Blues' numerous attacking men, Freddy Eastwood, had Andy Lonergan stretching to block a hard, low drive from 25 yards.

Lonergan was again busy to keep out a near certain opener from McKenzie, but his top drawer save was in vain as an offside flag was raised. A similarly acrobatic save did hold some meaning, however, when he stretched every muscle in his body to tip Danny Fox's 40-yard drive round the post.

The best chance to fall to either side within the opening 35 minutes failed to produce a goal as Billy Jones provided a low cross from the right, but the ball appeared to rise just as Barry Nicholson arrived on the scene in the hope of poking it home. Though he made a connection, the ball narrowly missed its intended target by a matter of inches as the goal opened up from a mere matter of yards away.

That was pretty much that as far as an exciting first half was concerned, with both sides retreating to the changing room in the belief that they could have been ahead, or at least sharing the spoils of a goal-laden period.

Breaking for the 15-minute interval did nothing to stem the flow of chances, with both sides returning to the field with vim and vigour.

Mellor's dipping volley from deep inside the home side's half was only kept out thanks to Westwood's height as he turned the ball over the bar, while Lonergan was kept busy with a succession of crosses which he dealt with expertly and with great confidence.

Lonergan was proving to be in inspired form as he went on to parry Morrison's 12-yard snapshot round the post, while only a deflection inside a crowded box stopped Michael Hart from lobbing home his maiden North End goal from an angle.

Both managers made like-for-like changes in a bid to break the deadlock, with Darren Carter replacing McKenna for Alan Irvine's side, while Chris Coleman opted to throw in Michael Mifsud as McKenzie departed.

The game progressed into the final ten minutes without a goal to show for all the effort expended, so further changes were in the offing, with Ross Wallace coming on in place of the impressive-once-again Sedgwick.

Before he could make an impact at the right end, Wallace had some defending to do, blocking Fox's rebound after the wall had initially stood up well to Eastwood's long-range free-kick with just three minutes to play.

The game ultimately drifted away to end in a goal-less draw, which was probably the biggest surprise of the afternoon given both sides' willingness to attack throughout.

In the end, North End can take heart from the point - and Lonergan's vastly deserved clean sheet - and the unbeaten start is preserved.

PNE: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Hart, Nicholson, Chaplow (sub Davidson 88), McKenna (sub Carter 73), Sedgwick (sub Wallace 82), Mellor, Parkin. Subs: Chris Neal, Davidson, Elliott.

Coventry: Westwood, Fox, Ward, Dann, Beuzelin (sub Tabb 87), Doyle, Best (sub Simpson 82), Eastwood, McKenzie (sub Mifsud 73), Osbourne, Morrison. Subs: Marshall, Hall, Tabb.

Referee: Grant Hegley

Attendance: 16,544 (1,360 visitors)