THIRTEEN proved to be anything but unlucky for Southend United at Preston North End this afternoon as they stretched their unbeaten run to the baker's dozen with a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

Blues were forced to dig deep to shut out their League One hosts in the first round of the FA Cup at Deepdale.

But a series of fine saves from goalkeeper Luke Daniels and a missed penalty from North End midfielder Barry Nicholson meant the two teams will now meet again in a Roots Hall replay.

Southend were initially on top at the weekend with Ryan Hall firing straight at Preston keeper Thorsten Stuckmann from 25 yards.

However, the home-side soon hit back with the lively Paul Coutts having a shot from a similar distance tipped around the right post by Daniels before Blues replied with Ryan Leonard heading a left wing free-kick from Hall only inches wide of the left upright.

In reply, Preston’s hard-working striker Juvhel Tsoumou, who caused Southend all kinds of problems in the opening exchanges, headed Coutts’ left wing cross just past the right post and, in the 23rd minute, he sent a 25 yard free-kick over the crossbar.

Preston were now beginning to get on top and a poor Peter Gilbert backpass then almost enabled Nicholson to race clean through on goal.

But Daniels read the situation well and rushed off his line before kicking the ball off the midfielder for a goal-kick, much to the relief of Gilbert.

Daniels then did well to keep out a well struck volley from Coutts and, moments later, the keeper also reacted quickly to save a low effort from Nicholson.

However, Preston then wasted what proved to be the game’s best chance as referee Nigel Miller pointed to the spot after Michael Timlin had brought down Coutts inside the area.

On first viewing it appeared a fair decision from the Durham based official but pictures later proved that Timlin won the ball with a sliding challenge inside the area.

The dubious decision was not to prove costly though as Nicholson fired the subsequent spot-kick way over the crossbar.

Having survived the scare, Southend looked far stronger at the start of the second half with Gilbert having an angled effort deflected to safety by Conor McLaughlin.

In a bid to make his side stronger, Blues boss Paul Sturrock made his first change of the afternoon in the 52nd minute with Bilel Mohsni replacing the out of sorts Jean-Paul Kalala.

Ater the Frenchman's introduction, Leonard fired wide of the right post from 25 yards but Preston immediately replied with Luke Clark chipping over from the edge of the penalty area.

With the game beginning to become more exciting and the atmosphere improving inside the stadium, Hall then shot past the right upright before also stabbing a close range shot straight at Stuckmann.

North End replied with Coutts having another 20 yard effort tipped over by Daniels before Blues almost opened the scoring in the 78th minute, with Hall again causing problems.

The in-form attacker, who had scored in his previous four matches, cleverly brought the ball back on to his left foot and unleashed a low shot from 25 yards which seemed destined for the bottom right hand corner of the net until Stuckmann got down superbly well to tip the ball around the right post.

Preston then also nearly scored when substitute Doyle Middleton shot fractionally wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area before Tsoumou fired straight at Daniels in the 85th minute.

The on loan West Bromwich Albion custodian then also did well to parry out an awkward Danny Mayor drive before tipping over a Coutts half volley to ensure the tie went to a replay.