Leicester City extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a gritty goalless draw at Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Chances were few and far between at Deepdale with Iain Hume, Momo Sylla, Joey Gudjonsson and substitute Dion Dublin going close for the Foxes.

But it was a day for defences as both sides failed to apply that crucial touch which would have handed them three vital points.

However, the visitors, who made five changes from Wednesday's Carling Cup victory at Cardiff, were definitely the happier of the two sides as they left the field at the final whistle. 

Claude Davis received some early treatment after a clash with City's stand-in captain Mark de Vries.

On nine minutes Rab Douglas had to be on his toes to clear under pressure from recent loan signing Jemal Johnson, who was then booked for diving inside the area two minutes later.

At the other end, Joe Hamill's dangerous inswinging free-kick was cleared by Preston skipper Chris Lucketti.

Douglas was again called into action in the 17th minute when Matty Hill beat Hamill to the ball at the far post but the Scot was equal to the task and parried his goalbound header away for a corner.

Davis followed Johnson into the book two minutes later when he fouled Joey Gudjonsson just as the Icelandic international was about to pull the trigger from 20-yards out.

Douglas did well to cut out former Fox Callum Davidson's teasing left-wing cross.

However, the visitors wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead on 32 minutes.

De Vries held off Davis inside the area before teeing up Iain Hume but his first-time shot found the side-netting with only Carlo Nash to beat.

On 38 minutes, Patrick Agyemang rounded Douglas before firing goalwards. The ball ricocheted back off the crossbar but the assistant referee had already raised his flag for offside and play was brought back.

De Vries picked up his fifth booking of the season on the stroke of half-time before Davidson headed wide with the goal gaping from Paul McKenna's corner.

However, neither side could find that all-important breakthrough and the two sides went into the break all-square.At the start of the second period, Nils-Eric Johansson was cautioned for a foul on Tye Mears.

Foxes manager Craig Levein made his first substitution of the game in the 53rd minute when he brought on Ryan Smith, on loan from Arsenal, for Hamill.

On 58 minutes Chris Sedgwick replaced Graham Alexander before David Hibbert came on for Johnson three minutes later.

The visitors made their second change on 63 minutes with de Vries making way for Dion Dublin, who assumed the captain's responsibilities.

McKenna was booked for deliberate handball moments later then Hume fired straight at Nash from inside the area with only the keeper to beat.

Patrick Kisnorbo put his effort wide on 68 minutes after a neat one-two with Dublin.

While at the other end, David Jones curled his free-kick wide after Paddy McCarthy was adjudged to have raised his boot on the edge of the area.

Patrik Gerrbrand became the third City player to be booked in the 70th minute before Elvis Hammond replaced Hume 14 minutes from time.

Jones drilled his shot straight at Douglas soon after before a sustained spell of pressure saw City go close on a couple of occasions.   

Dickson Etuhu came on McKenna on 80 minutes then Gudjonsson's goalbound thunderbolt deflected narrowly wide with Nash beaten a minute later.

Nash grabbed at the second attempt under a challenge from Dublin before Gudjonsson tested Nash from distance four minutes from time and then again in stoppage time.

Hibbert headed over but that was to be the last action of the game with the points being shared.

City: Douglas, Maybury, McCarthy, Gerrbrand, Johansson, Sylla, Gudjonsson, Kisnorbo, Hamill (Smith 53), De Vries © (Dublin 63), Hume (Hammond 76). Subs not used: Henderson, Tiatto.

Preston: Nash, Alexander (Sedgwick 58), Lucketti ©, Davis, Davidson, Jones, McKenna (Etuhu 80), Mears, Hill, Johnson (Hibbert 61), Agyemang. Subs not used: Ward, Mawene.
 
Yellow Cards:

City: De Vries (45), Johansson (46), Gerrbrand (70)

Preston: Johnson (11), Davis (19), McKenna (65)

Referee: Andy Hall (W Midlands)