Sides deadlocked in Championship play-off

Preston 0 Leeds 0

Preston had the better of the first half of their Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Leeds but chances were at a premium at Deepdale.

With the scores level following the 1-1 draw at Elland Road on Friday night, North End shaded possession and territory in an ill-tempered and nervy opening period.

Both sides struggled to create opportunities, with Preston’s Danny Dichio squandering the best in the 40th minute, although United boss Kevin Blackwell chose to leave the majority of his attacking options on the bench.

With the tie so finely poised after the first leg, Preston boss Billy Davies tried to grab the initiative with an offensive line-up that included four strikers, while Leeds looked content to contain.

North End certainly started on the front foot, with midfielder Brian O’Neil drilling just wide with just over a minute gone.

However, Preston suffered a blow after nine minutes when Brett Ormerod was carried off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment following a challenge from Jonathan Douglas.

It emerged the striker had a suspected leg fracture and was taken to hospital.

As Preston took time to adjust to their new shape following the introduction of substitute Simon Whaley the game grew scrappy and the two sides needed little encouragement for the niggles to start.

It took almost half the first period for there to be a shot on target but North End goalkeeper Carlo Nash had to be at full stretch to hold Frazer Richardson’s powerful half-volley from just outside the area.

Almost immediately at the other end a Graham Alexander corner was headed back across goal by O’Neil but Dichio failed to make sufficient contact with his own header to trouble Neil Sullivan.

Just before the half hour, David Nugent just could not stretch to divert a curling Alexander free-kick past Sullivan.

Six minutes before the interval, Preston right-back Tyrone Mears found space on the right flank and crossed for Dichio but the big striker was guilty of a bad miss as his header flew wide.

Whaley sliced an effort well off-target as the half drew to a close before both Nugent and Matthew Kilgallon were cautioned for an ugly off the ball incident, but there was nothing to separate the sides at the interval.