Lee Nicholls’ heroics ensured Huddersfield Town’s unbeaten run continued in stalemate against Preston North End

Lee Nicholls pulled off a vital last gasp save to deny Emil Riis Jakobsen and maintain Huddersfield’s unbeaten run in a goalless draw at Deepdale.

The Town shot-stopper produced two excellent saves, one in either half, to extend Carlos Corberan’s side’s unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions.

Preston were the more dominant, but despite having the better of the chances, they were unable to find a way past the Huddersfield number one, who kept his third consecutive clean sheet.

The 29-year-old keeper, who is a former Wigan Athletic scholar, has now kept 12 league clean sheets this season which sees him rank joint first in the race for the golden glove alongside Bournemouth’s Mark Travers.

Nicholls, who was named Huddersfield Town’s Man of the Match, was supported by a backline who threw their bodies at the ball at every opportunity to ensure they travelled back to West Yorkshire with at least a point.

North End started the brighter, and under the influence of manager Ryan Lowe, stuck to their ball retention game plan of building from the back before awaiting the killer final pass.

Their first chance of the contest came when Ben Whiteman released Republic of Ireland international Alan Browne down the right. The midfielder was able to pick out Ched Evans in the middle but his goal bound effort was bravely blocked by right-back Ollie Turton.

Lowe was left frustrated post-match that his side were not awarded a late penalty, and across the 90 minutes, the Lancashire outfit saw multiple appeals waved away by referee Robert Jones.

Shortly after Turton’s vital block, Preston were quick to dispossess Danel Sinani on half-way before Daniel Johnson’s attempted shot fell to Brad Potts whose fierce shot hit the hand of Tom Lees, but it was not enough for the referee.

Huddersfield aimed to cause a threat down the channels through dangermen Sorba Thomas and Duane Holmes. It was the latter who was involved in creating Town’s first chance 20 minutes in, when the tricky winger dribbled his way into the box but he was halted by the well-positioned on loan Liverpool defender, Sepp van den Berg.

Since his arrival from Aston Villa, Cameron Archer has already made a lasting impression amongst North End supporters for his winners against West Bromwich Albion and Hull City.

Playing alongside Evans up front, the Villa loanee used his pace and skill to trouble the Terriers’ defence, however, on multiple occasions the striker’s finish let him down.

With minutes remaining in the first half Nicholls, who had only been called upon to deny Whiteman from distance, produced an impressive save to refuse Evans the opening goal.

? @LeeNicholls = brick wall ?

? @ElevenSports#htafc pic.twitter.com/B2CXT2ccXj

— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) February 10, 2022

Preston’s playmaker Johnson latched onto Archer’s through ball before squaring to Evans, who after getting away from the Town defender, saw his powerfully hit shot parried away by Nicholls from seven yards out.

Nicholls was called into action 10 minutes after the restart when he needed to get down low to to keep out Archer’s strike. The youngster showed fast footwork to create space, but the shot-stopper was equal.

Preston turned to their top scorer Jakobsen with 20 minutes remaining, in the hope of finding the break through. Lowe revealed post-match that the Danish forward, who has scored 12 goals this season, started on the bench due to a slight knock the club did not want to worsen.

The substitute caused havoc down the right, and after taking on Lees, thought he had been brought down when attempting to cut inside. To the anger of the Preston supporters and players, Jones did not award the hosts a fourth penalty of the campaign.

With the supporters riled up, North End upped their pursuit of a late winner. Scott Sinclair, who had been subbed on at the start of injury time, did well to head on Johnson’s ball into the path of the approaching Jakobsen who got his shot away. However, Nicholls saved well with his feet before claiming the follow up in the air.

Huddersfield held on for the closing seconds to extend their unbeaten run and impressive showing in evening matches – Corberan’s side have still only lost one of their 10 night time battles.

Despite not being able to win their first match at Deepdale since 1969, Town, largely thanks to Nicholls, head back to Yorkshire with a point that moves them six behind Bournemouth who occupy second.

A frustrated North End would have been deserved of the three points which could have aided their push for the play-offs. With crucial matches against strugglers Peterborough United and Reading ahead, Preston remain four points off the top six.

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