On-the-whistle report: Preston North End 0 Rotherham United 0

The Millers stood up to a second-half bombardment from the home team to stand eighth in the table.

They showed guts, determination and organisation as they survived against the odds to claim a precious point and keep their momentum going.

Preston have yet to concede a league goal and provided a severe test of Paul Warne's men's second-tier credentials.

Rotherham had a huge let-off in the fourth minute when Daniel Johnson was played through on goal by Troy Parrott.

The Preston man should have scored but sent a low effort wide of the far post.

North End did nearly all of the attacking in the first quarter of an hour as Troy Parrott picked pockets of space up front and ran in behind but the Millers held firm.

Ben Wiles was behind the visitors' best work early on as he looked to drive forward. although Freddie Woodman remained untroubled in the Preston net.

It was a proud night for the midfielder: a Rawmarsh lad captaining his home-town club for the first time.

An unbelievable 26th-minute block by Cameron Humphreys denied Parrott who seemed certain to open the scoring with a shot as he ran on to Robbie Brady's low cross from the left.

At other end, Conor Washington was only inches away from putting the Millers ahead as he rolled the ball beyond Woodman from Dan Barlaser's pass and saw his effort go just the wrong side of the post.

Next it was Grant Hall's turn to block a shot from Parrott who then had an effort saved by Viktor Johansson.

The striker, who was causing all kinds of trouble for Rotherham, could have had a hat-trick but the score remained goalless as half-time approached on a blustery evening in Lancashire.

Washington brought the opening period to  a close, forcing a sharp stop from Woodman after a run down the left and cross from Cohen Bramall.

The Millers had made two changes to the side that had won handsomely against Reading at the weekend, bringing in new boys Lee Peltier and Bramall at centre-back and left wing-back respectively for their first league starts.

They took the places of skipper Richard Wood and Shane Ferguson who were rested and named among the substitutes.

Tom Eaves, had travelled with the squad after recovering from a pre-season calf injury but was left out of the matchday 18 as manager Paul Warne opted to take no risks with the striker's recovery.

Johansson saved comfortably from Alan Browne as the hour mark approached and Preston sub Emil Riis hit the post from an angle so tight that the ball was never really going in.

Clear-cut opportunities had been harder to come by for Preston in the second half as the Millers defended resolutely.

But then Potts smacked the bar from distance as the 70th minute came and went and a deflection took Johnson's fierce shot away from the net.

Rotherham were hanging on under a near-constant assault but had a sight of goal themselves with ten minutes to go when Wiles was unable to make the most of Bramall's set-up.

Johansson denied Ben Whiteman and Riis in quick succession and the Millers held out for a draw that will mean as much to them as a win.

Preston (3-4-2-1): Freddie Woodman; Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Andrew Hughes; Brad Potts, Ben Whiteman, Ryan Ledson (Emil Riis 61), Robbie Brady; Alan Browne (Ben Woodburn (80), Daniel Johnson (Ali McCann 80); Troy Parrott (Ched Evans 88). Subs not used: Dai Cornell, Greg Cunningham, Patrick Bauer.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Lee Peltier, Grant Hall, Cameron Humphreys; Wes Harding (Georgie Kelly 71), Ben Wiles (Richard Wood 90), Dan Barlaser, Jamie Lindsay (Ollie Rathbone H-T), Cohen Bramall; Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Washington (Scott High 61). Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Jamie McCart, Shane Ferguson.

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).