Crystal Palace battled hard to earn a valuable point and boss Peter Taylor could be proud of his team's performance as they could have easily have returned to London with a crucial victory.
Preston suffered an early blow when left-back Matt Hill appeared to twist his ankle after 23 minutes and had to be replaced by Lewis Neal.
Paul Simpson moved Danny Pugh to left-back with substitute Neal playing on the left wing.
Midway through the opening half Preston created the first opportunity to break the deadlock when Simon Whaley headed over the bar from Paul McKenna's free-kick on the left-hand side of the pitch.
England Under-21 international David Nugent hit a 20-yard right-foot shot over the bar after being set up by Whaley before Preston's top scorer, Patrick Agyemang, fired in a 25-yard right-foot shot from inside the right channel that flew narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
As Preston continued to dominate, McKenna set up Nugent whose 20-yard right-foot chip was deflected away for a corner by the hard-working Mark Hudson.
Just before half-time James Scowcroft appeared to elbow Sean St Ledger and was booked while Preston captain Graham Alexander was also shown a yellow card for dissent.
McKenna drilled another shot over the bar as the match remained goalless at the break.
Palace improved after the interval and Preston keeper Carlo Nash had to race off his line to deny Jobi McAnuff with his feet as the Eagles star bore down on goal.
On the hour mark Nugent embarked on a great run as he tore through the Palace defence, but he let himself down with a shot that was straight at the visitors' keeper Iain Turner.
As both sides pressed for a late winner, Simpson brought on Brett Ormerod for Agyemang and Nugent had a 20-yard left-foot shot deflected for a corner, but the game ended goalless.