Sunderland 0-0 Preston North End: Lilywhites record sixth goalless draw of season
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Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson denied Ched Evans as Preston failed to score for the eighth time this season
Sunderland were held to a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light as goal-shy Preston maintained their unbeaten away league record.
Centre-half Aji Alese had to hook a shot from Preston's Ben Whiteman off the line, and then almost teed up an opener for Elliott Embleton, who was inches from converting his low cross in a goalless first half.
Ched Evans' header forced Black Cats goalkeeper Anthony Patterson to tip over and the striker sent another diving header wide.
Patrick Roberts jinked past two Preston defenders, but fired his effort inches off target as the Lilywhites registered their sixth goalless draw of the season.
The Black Cats had the best of a tight first half, with Jack Clarke's dangerous ball across the box forcing a vital interception from Liam Lindsay, while Alex Pritchard fired just wide.
Roberts also sent a curling effort just over after a neat move for Tony Mowbray's side, but Preston have yet to concede a goal on the road in five outings and again proved tough to break down.
Sunderland had the better of possession throughout, but it was the visitors who provided the bigger goal threat, with Evans to the fore after the break.
The Lilywhites have managed just three goals in 11 matches this season, but went close to a winner with 12 minutes left, when Jordan Storey's header was cleared off the line from Whiteman's cross.
Mowbray has picked up eight points in five matches since taking charge and his side are seventh, while Preston's seventh draw from 11 outings leaves them 14th.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray:
"They (Preston) are a pretty well organised team, they've got some huge physical attributes in that team, I thought we saw them off really well today and yet we couldn't find the answer to score a goal, yet we did have some pretty good chances.
"We will find a way to score goals, we will find a way to win games, there are football matches where you don't score, every team goes through a spell, that's one game.
"We scored five in the last two away games, I don't see it being an issue at all.
"I think there's plenty in this team who can score goals and plenty of players who come off the bench and can score goals as well."
Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe:
"I'm not frustrated in terms of performance, we're frustrated we need to get goals, of course, but we can't let that manifest. I said to the group we need to keep believing, keep doing the right things.
"Overall pleased, we've got into good areas, we've had one cleared off the line, a potential error, Ched had one saved by the keeper so the chances are there, I think we had eight today and five were on target.
"So overall pleased with the performance, nearly the perfect away performance if we'd got three points."