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Preston climbed off the bottom of the Championship despite extending their winless run to eight games after being held to a goalless draw by Cardiff.

The best chance of a dour first half fell to the visitors' Joe Mason but his shot was blocked by Tom Clarke.

Clarke then came closest to giving the hosts the lead as his header from Paul Gallagher's corner hit the bar.

Peter Whittingham's late free-kick almost won it for Cardiff but his shot was well saved by Jordan Pickford.

The draw means Preston climb above Bolton and Rotherham on goal difference while Cardiff remain eighth, two points away from the play-off places.

In a tense opening period Jordan Hugill and Greg Cunningham had efforts off target for the hosts while Cardiff had to wait until the 38th minute before their first shot on goal.

However, Mason's goalbound effort, the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes, was excellently blocked by Clarke in a first half that saw neither goalkeeper forced into any meaningful saves.

Cardiff improved after the break and Sammy Ameobi should have done better but his volley flew over the bar when well placed.

Anthony Pilkington's header was just off target for the visitors before Pickford was forced to make his first real contribution to deny Mason.

Clarke had the home fans on their feet but his header clipped the crossbar as the division's lowest scorers failed to find a way past David Marshall.

Pickford tipped Whittingham's free-kick around the post and Hugill's stoppage-time header was off target as the two sides were forced to settle for a point.

Preston North End manager Simon Grayson:

"We have to have a little bit more belief in the players in themselves, that they can express themselves more, take a little bit more care in that final third to try and take a better option and cause the opposition a few more problems.

"It could have gone either way but ultimately I'm pleased we've kept a clean sheet and got a point, which hopefully we can keep building on because there are no easy games in this division.

"We've got a good spirit about us that we're determined not to get beat if that's possible."

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade:

"It wasn't a great game or spectacle by either side in the first period and not a lot of opportunities, but that was in contrast to the second half.

"Even though mistakes were made, there were opportunities to be taken and we were looking to do that. We pushed forward.

"They put their bodies on the line. They threw everything at it. I think there were three blocks on the bounce at one stage in their box, so credit to them for defending as well."