Matt Bloomfield’s first game in charge ended in stalemate as the Town couldn’t find a way past a stubborn Preston North End at Kenilworth Road.

Both sides were restricted to half-chances on a freezing afternoon with a point for the Hatters ending a run of four successive Championship defeats.

New Hatters manager Bloomfield made four changes to the side that were in action last time out at Nottingham Forest with Daiki Hashioka in at right-back and Tom Krauß and Jordan Clark starting in midfield.

Jacob Brown started in attack with Reuell Walters, Liam Walsh and Zack Nelson dropping to the bench. Lamine Fanne missed out altogether with an ankle knock.

The first half saw the Town begin on the front foot with Mark McGuinness poking a shot wide following pinball in the penalty area after three minutes.

As the Hatters enjoyed plenty of the ball Jordan Clark tested Freddie Woodman in the Preston goal with a left-foot effort on 12 minutes.

The Town continued to press, and on 23 minutes Tom Krauß’s cross fizzed across goal but no man in orange was there to convert.

But in truth clear-cut opportunities were at a premium at either end.

The Hatters had a sniff of an opener two minutes into the second half when Clark’s teasing cross from the left almost found Carlton Morris before Morris’s shot on the turn from the edge of the box on 66 minutes was held by Woodman.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Bloomfield made a triple change, introducing Elijah Adebayo, Victor Moses and Nelson.

However, the Hatters could not break the deadlock. Clark curled a free-kick on target that was saved by Woodman with six minutes left and Adebayo’s shot from 18 yards was also stopped by the visiting keeper.

Five added minutes were shown but neither side could find a goal and the points were shared.

For the Town, there was promise – especially in the first half – and heart can be taken from a first clean sheet in 12 matches that helped stop the rot of five straight defeats in all competitions.

Next up for Bloomfield’s Hatters is a trip to Oxford on Tuesday night.

We’ll see you then.

Town: Kaminski, Hashioka, Bell, McGuinness, Holmes, Nakamba, Krauß (sub Woodrow 89), Clark, Brown (sub Moses 74), Jones (sub Nelson 74), Morris (sub Adebayo 74).

Subs: Krul, Walters, Andersen, Mpanzu, Walsh.

Attendance: 11,540, including 1,214 from Preston.