Stoke City's promotion ambitions suffered another setback as they were held to a 0-0 draw by draw specialists Preston North End at the bet365 Stadium. The stalemate, hard-fought but short on clear-cut finishing, left Mark Robins' side down in 10th place after having sat second in the Championship table before last month's international break, while Preston remained fifth.
Both teams had opportunities in an open, competitive encounter, yet the story of the afternoon was one of missed chances and two impressive goalkeeping displays. Preston began on the front foot through Harrison Armstrong and Thierry Small, but Stoke gradually took control, only to find Daniel Iversen equal to everything they could muster, with Viktor Johansson just as reliable at the other end when called upon.
Preston's Bright Start Blunted by Johansson
Preston, whose head coach Paul Heckingbottom watched from the stands as he completed a three-game touchline ban, started strongly and might have quietened the home crowd inside the opening minutes. Within seconds of kick-off, Harrison Armstrong tried his luck from distance but lifted his shot over the bar. The visitors went closer still in the seventh minute, working the ball slickly from right to left to free Thierry Small, whose close-range effort was smothered bravely by the onrushing Johansson.