An unproductive week off the field for Frank Lampard and Derby ended with an equally frustrating night on it as the Rams failed to make the most of their chance to turn up the pressure on their promotion rivals.
If Lampard had been dissatisfied with his team's lack of activity in the January transfer window - Ashley Cole and on-loan Andy King his only signings - then he must have been just as unimpressed with the way his team started at Deepdale.
Paul Gallagher's right-wing corners, in particular, proved problematic with three of them opening up chances for the home team inside the opening 20 minutes.
Two fell to striker Jordan Stockley although they were difficult opportunities as he first headed a powerful Alan Browne shot off target then hooked an attempt over from an Andrew Hughes header.
Defender Jordan Storey also got in on the act, heading over from yet another excellent Gallagher delivery as Derby held out and, in fact, started to threaten with the occasional counter-attack.
Harry Wilson launched the best of those on 11 minutes, lifting the ball from Gallagher before sending a superb 25-yard shot thumping against the Preston bar.
Ben Pearson provoked an angry reaction from the Derby bench just before the half hour for a foul on Tom Lawrence which the visitors clearly felt worthy of a red instead of the yellow shown by ref Darren Bond.
And veteran David Nugent and Lawrence served up a couple of reminders about the danger posed by the Rams with shots, from promising positions, that flew just wide.
Closest yet, for the second time in the half, Wilson struck woodwork with a shot from outside the area that left keeper Declan Rudd rooted to the spot but struck the right-hand post.
Preston started the second half on the front foot, as they had the first, with Stockley heading over from an early Hughes cross.
Pearson's clever through ball soon set up defender Darnell Fisher for a shot which was saved by the outstretched leg of keeper Kelle Roos.
Brad Potts kept up the momentum when he skilfully switched feet to make room on the edge of the Derby area before shooting just wide.
And Sean Maguire could only steer an off-balance header wide of the Derby goal after he rose to meet a corner headed across the box by Ben Davies.
Closest yet, a brilliant run by Maguire ended with a far-post cross which Gallagher fired, acrobatically, on goal only for Roos to save again with his foot as Potts' follow-up striker hit one of his own players in a crowded area.
Potts soon had yet another effort blocked, following yet another goalmouth scramble, as Derby somehow managed to delay what appeared increasingly likely to be a home goal.
The lively Gallagher sent a curling effort over while Maguire struck the ball directly at Roos from the edge of the area. In between, there was momentary relief as Duane Holmes forayed into the Preston area but the attack was shortlived and quickly dealt with by the home defence.
