Nothing could separate Preston North End and Huddersfield Town at Deepdale as the sides played out a goalless draw.
It was a game of few clear-cut chances, although PNE will feel they had the better of them, with the likes of Ched Evans and Cameron Archer coming close for the hosts.
Evans was one of two changes made from the weekend’s draw against Hull City, with Daniel Johnson the other man coming in to the starting XI.
North End had the early chances of the game but it was a case of blocked efforts, firstly with Evans seeing his low drive kept out by a defender, before Greg Cunningham later got in the way of Ben Whiteman’s clean strike from the edge of the box.
In a half without much goalmouth action, Evans could have scored on 42 minutes at the end of a fine team move. Archer played Johnson into space on the left and he played a nice ball to find North End’s No.9 six yards out, but his effort was saved by Lee Nicholls.
The away ‘keeper was then tested again ten minutes into the second period, this time preventing Archer’s left-footed effort after he’d taken the ball in well from Johnson, turned and shot goalwards.
At the other end, skipper Alan Browne came up with a vital interception as he stopped Sorba Thomas’ cross reaching Danel Sinani at the back post for what could have been a tap in.
DJ and Archer were again combining on 63 minutes, with the Jamaican feeding the Aston Villa loanee, and after a piece of skill had helped him beat a Huddersfield defender, he couldn’t keep his effort down.
Archer was soon joined up top by PNE’s top goalscorer Emil Riis, and on 84 minutes he had a great shout for a penalty, as he appeared to be tripped by a defender as he cut onto his left foot, but referee Robert Jones gave nothing.
Moments later, Whiteman fired a vicious effort goalwards which was blocked by Harry Toffolo, and Potts’ follow up was diverted over the crossbar by Browne.
PNE then had a glorious chance in the third minute of stoppage time to take all three points, as Johnson's pass fell to Riis in the area but his effort couldn't quite trouble Nicholls, and the points were shared.
PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Browne, Johnson, Cunningham (Earl, 35); Archer (Sinclair, 90), Evans (Riis, 68). Subs not used: Ripley, Lindsay, McCann, Ledson.
Huddersfield Town line-up: Nicholls; Turton, Pearson, Lees; Thomas, Hogg, O’Brien; Sinani (Eiting, 66), Ward (Rhodes, 84), Holmes (Koroma, 86). Subs not used: Blackman, Ruffels, Sarr, Russell.
Attendance: 11,120 (1,147 away).
Referee: Mr R Jones.