Preston 0-0 Colchester
- Published
Colchester goalkeeper Mark Cousins was in fine form as Preston and the U's shared a point on the opening day.
Jeffrey Monakana was twice frustrated by Cousins, while Nicky Wroe and Scott Laird were also denied by the U's man.
Colchester midfielder John-Joe O'Toole wasted a chance to upset the run of play when he shot tamely into Thorsten Stuckmann's hands.
Preston always looked the more likely to score and Cousins denied David Amoo from scoring a winner late on.
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Colchester United manager John Ward told BBC Essex:
Ward pleased by competitive display
"I'm really pleased with that, particularly after (losing at Yeovil on) Tuesday - that was a disappointment and we let ourselves down.
"We talked about it over the few days before coming here and said we owe ourselves one as well as those supporters who travelled all this distance, because I guess some of those were at Yeovil too.
"It's been a good, strong effort from my team - if it hadn't been we'd have been beaten - and it's got a reward for us.
"The people I've brought in, like Marcus Bean and Clinton (Morrison), showed their mettle and why we've got them at this football club."
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