EDDIE LEWIS' prediction when he left Deepdale for Leeds that by the time he returned the Yorkshire side would already have secured promotion now seems very wide of the mark.

The USA winger was one of several players Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell highlighted as not performing to their best after they failed to overcome Preston, a club he has raided twice since the end of last season.

First Lewis failed to sign a new contract, leaving him free to skip across the Pennines, before striker Richard Cresswell moved in a £1million deal.

The loss of both players has been used repeatedly by boss Billy Davies to explain North End's struggle for goals this season.

But at Elland Road, it was hard to pick the team splashing the cash from the one where the manager and chairman fell out publicly over whether they were becoming a 'selling club'.

After an early scare, in which another Deepdale expat, David Healy whipped in a cross which forced Brian O'Neil into a desperate clearance to deny Rob Hulse, chances for either side were few and far between.

Dan Harding's up-ending of David Jones gave Paul McKenna a good free-kick advantage - but his shot was saved by Neil Sullivan in the seventh minute before Healy flashed wide from 20 yards in the 14th minute.

David Nugent, brought on in the 15th minute for injured midfielder Jones, was easily the best striker on the field - forcing a great save from Sullivan before failing to get his head to a fine McKenna cross late on.

Leeds' only real chance - after debutant Liam Miller had his 25 yard shot saved by Carlo Nash - came late on. Robbie Blake's volley on the turn saved by Nash comfortably.

Preston boss Davies said: "We should have won the game and I am disappointed that we didn't.

"Leeds started the second half well but we controlled the game after that, but we just haven't had the breaks.

"I am not worried that we are drawing so many games. I would be worried if we were not playing well, but we are. We just need to take more chances."