The 33-year-old twice had the chance to seal a place in the next round for North End in the first half only to fire straight at Shrimpers goalkeeper Luke Daniels before blazing a penalty over. When defender Peter Gilbert hauled down Paul Coutts in the 37th minute Preston had the perfect opportunity to break the deadlock but Nicholson fluffed his lines as Southend held on. The hosts started the stronger of the two sides and should have gone ahead just after the half hour mark but Nicholson couldn't convert Juvhel Tsoumou's teasing cross. Minutes later he was at fault again firing a penalty high and wide while after the break Preston winger Coutts forced Daniels into action with a thunderous 25-yard strike. Ten minutes later Southend midfielder Ryan Hall drew a smart save from Thorsten Stuckmann but neither team could find the net as proceedings ended goalless.
