Rams Hold Off Preston In Goalless Draw

Derby County held off Preston North End at Deepdale to earn a point in a goalless draw on Friday night under the lights.

Harry Wilson came closest to breaking the deadlock striking the woodwork twice in the first-half while Kelle Roos made a handful of brilliant saves in the second-half to deny the threatening home side the three points.

Tom Lawrence and Craig Bryson returned for the Rams following injury with the former also seeing an opportunity to score.

The point keeps the Rams in the top six with a game in hand.

The home side came out the blocks quickly almost nabbing the lead inside two minutes when Alan Browne directed a powerful header towards goal only for it to be deflected by his teammate.

The Lilywhites remained largely in control to begin the half, however it was the Rams who came closest to taking the lead twice through Harry Wilson. Just after the ten-minute mark he nicked possession in the middle of the park and drove forward before unleashing his trademark left foot towards goal from range. But his effort rattled off the cross bar.

Ten minutes before time he came inches away again from breaking the deadlock with a similar shot, only this time it smashed off the post.

Just before that, having grown into the game Tom Lawrence went one-on-one with Declan Rudd after a good team build up from Duane Holmes’ throwing resulting in Wilson playing his Wales teammate through between two defenders. However, his effort was wide.

Preston defender Darnell Fisher found himself in the box as the Lilywhites pushed forward again to start the second-half. He struck from close-range calling for an instinctive save from Kelle Roos with his leg denying the goal.

Roos made another fantastic save with half an hour left to play when a dangerous cross whipped into Sean Maguire to the right of the box and he lashed it towards goal only to be batted away back into play by the Rams’ stopper.

It fell back to Preston for another go but the effort couldn’t get past the traffic in the area that blocked the rebounded effort.

The second 45 minutes proved to be a lot more difficult for Roos but he continued to step up to the pressure as five minutes later he batted away another effort by the home side.

With just more than ten minutes left to play, Maguire had another effort from range which Roos dived to keep out then straight down the other end Mason Bennett almost found a way though in the box.

Derby played with more urgency to end the half but couldn't produce any clear cut chances and left Deepdale with a point.