Preston North End marked their return to the second tier of English football with a well-earned goalless draw against Middlesbrough.
In a game of very few clear-cut chances, the Lilywhites remained compact to restrict their promotion-backed opponents to zero shots on target.
In the end, Grant Leadbitter's early opening was as close as Boro came to a breakthrough, while Will Keane saw his attempt cleared off the line up the other end.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Deepdale affair below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship clash between Preston North End and Middlesbrough at Deepdale.
It has already been an exciting opening weekend in the Football League, with a ton of goals, the odd surprise result and controversial decisions aplenty. Now it is the turn of two sides who experienced contrasting fortunes at the end of last season; Boro narrowly missing out on the top flight, while the Lilywhites secured promotion via the League One playoffs.
Kickoff in Lancashire is around 25 minute away, so let's get straight into things by checking out some team news from Deepdale.
TEAM NEWS!
PRESTON XI: Pickford, Vermijl, Clarke, Huntington, Wright, Cunningham, Welsh, Johnson, Gallagher, Keane, Garner
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Konstantopoulos, Kalas, Ayala, Fry, Friend, Adomah, Clayton, Leadbitter, Reach, Downing, Kike
The home side are without Jermaine Beckford for this afternoon's match due to a knock, which is expected to keep him out until next week. Jordan Pickford, Greg Cunningham and Marnick Vermijl are each handed their full debuts for the Lilywhites, meanwhile, and there is also a place in the starting lineup for last season's top scorer Joe Garner.
Will Keane was also brought in on loan during the off-season, and he too starts against last season's beaten playoff finalists. Paul Gallagher completes the attacking triumvirate for Preston, but the loss of Beckford - who scored a hat-trick at Wembley just a couple of months ago - will be a big loss for Simon Grayson's men.
Boro may have lost a couple of key players this summer, including Lee Tomlin and particularly Patrick Bamford, but the arrival of Stewart Downing is a major plus point. The former Liverpool and West Ham United midfielder starts in the middle this afternoon, but there is no place for the injured Ben Gibson.
As expected, Aitor Karanka has brought youngster Dael Fry into a Middlesbrough defence which also includes the reliable Daniel Ayala, George Friend and Tomas Kalas. Christian Stuani was given clearance to feature in today's opener, but he fails to make it into the starting lineup.
BENCH WATCH!
PRESTON SUBS: James, Humphrey, Kilkenny Woods, Browne, Brownhill, Hugill
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Mejias, Carayol, Stephens, Stuani, Nsue, Fabbrini, Forshaw
Kickoff is fast approaching at Deepdale, in the concluding fixture of this opening Championship weekend:
So Downing, as expected, goes straight into the Boro starting lineup to provide a solid and reliable option in midfield. The England international was impressive in the Premier League last campaign, and in a squad that came so close to promotion a few months back, he is likely to play a key part once more.
For Preston, on the other hand, it has been all about keeping hold of key players by tying them down to new deals. Joe Garner was on fire in League One last time out, which he will be looking to build on this campaign. Pickford and Keane will both provide something different, meanwhile, and there is also the permanent signing of Beckford.
DID YOU KNOW? Preston have failed to win their first fixture of a season since 2008, while it has been 11 years since their last victory on home soil on the opening weekend. They have drawn each of the last three, however, so it is not quite as bad as the statistics paint out.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Boro have not lost against Preston in some 43 years. During that time, the Smoggies have won five and drawn three, while they have recorded successive 3-1 victories over North End in the League Cup in recent years.
PREDICTION! We have already seen seven sides open their seasons with maximum points, including early frontrunners MK Dons, so Boro will be looking to themselves get off to a flyer. The Dons showed yesterday that the newly-promoted sides should not be written off, with the Lilywhites looking to replicate the form of their last promotion to this division in 2000 when they made it all the way to the playoff final. 1-3.
Both sets of players are now out on the field, with kickoff now just moments away. Can Preston get their Championship return off to a flying start, or will Boro kick on from where they left off in the regular league season last time out? Let's find out...
KICKOFF! Boro get us underway at Deepdale. Incidentally, the visitors have just five starters from that playoff final defeat at Wembley 76 days ago.
A sloppy pass from Leadbitter allows Preston to win back possession, but the hosts are quickly being chased down on the ball. Boro, bar that Leadbitter error, looking the more composed in these opening stages.
Fry catches Garner with a boot to the face. The youngster impressed in his side's final pre-season outing against Getafe, but it is still a huge show of faith from Karanka to throw him into the starting lineup.
It has been a decent enough start to the contest in Lancashire, without either side really getting on the ball in the final third. Still early doors yet, so we can expect both to step things up as this one goes on.
CHANCE! The first big moment of the contest, and it really should be 1-0 to the home side. Gallagher's corner was right on the head of Bailey Wright, who was left with a free header just a few yards out. The centre-back could not direct his attempt goalwards, however, with the ball going out for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Some fantastic play from Leadbitter sees the midfielder play a quick one-two with Kike inside the box, before selling a dummy to an opposition player. He was then left with a clean shot on goal, but he failed to even find the target from close range. What a chance!
Well the tone has certainly been set in these opening 13 minutes or so. Big chances at either end, which neither side were able to take. Boro's in particular really should have ended with the net rustling.
George Friend bursts forward from the back, cutting inside and finding himself in plenty of space 20 yards from goal. The full-back opted to attempt to pick out a teammate, which was cut out, rather than taking on the shot.
Things have quietened down over the past couple of minutes following that frantic spell a short while ago. Both teams continuing to see plenty of the ball in what is an open contest.
Kalas gets a cross into the box which Preston are able to clear away. The newly-promoted side are remaining strong at the back so far. Play is very much being focused through the middle on the whole.
We have seen a little more caution from both teams, who are a little reluctant to offer up space in behind. A goalless opening quarter, but entertaining thus far nonetheless.
Wright had to get his tackle spot on to prevent a Boro attack on goal, which was created by Downing. That aside, we have not seen a great deal of action over these past few minutes - or since the missed Leadbitter chance, in fact.
Middlesbrough are now the side on top, continuing to probe away without a great deal of success. It looked like we were in for a contest of chances galore following an entertaining start, but things have dropped off since then.
OFF THE LINE! Loanee Keane sees a dream debut goal prevented by Friend on the line, after Gallagher's initial cross into the box was only half cleared. Keane had a clean strike of the ball in a central position inside the box, but Friend was on hand to clear away.
SAVE! It's all very frantic at the moment. Seconds after that Keane chance, Garner had a weak penalty shout turned down. Play resumed and the same man then saw his shot kept out by Konstantopoulos right on the edge of the area.
So Preston just about edging out their opponents in terms of big chances at the moment. Boro have been the side on top in terms of possession, but they are struggling to break down the hosts.
YELLOW CARD! The first caution of the afternoon is shown to Clarke for his challenge on Friend close to the touchline.
Full-back Vermijl found himself in a promising shooting position inside the box, only to completely fluff his lines by getting his shot all wrong.
PNE seeing a lot of the ball now, as Boro head away a succession of crosses into the box. The Smoggies are yet to truly get into this one, with Leadbitter's wasted opening their only real chance of note.
Clayton and Garner have been niggling away at each other all half. The latest coming together saw the Preston striker wrestled to the ground, but the referee has yet to intervene.
Half time is fast approaching now, but Boro have still yet to find their groove. Karanka will no doubt be having a word or two during the interval.
Konstantopolous has not looked all that convincing when it comes to deliveries into the box. The latest is just about dealt with, but it is something Preston will no doubt be looking to target.
One minute of added time left to play at Deepdale. This half has petered out over the last 10 minutes or so.
HALF TIME: PRESTON NORTH END 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH
It remains goalless at the break, then, but it is Preston who will go into half time the happier of the two sides. The Lilywhites have restricted their opponents to just the once chance, which Leadbitter failed to make the most of when through on goal.
Aitor Karanka's men appeared to be too reserved, failing to truly get up to speed in the opening 45 minutes. We can surely expect that to change following the restart, and I would not be at all surprised to see a change of personnel.
In terms of the hosts, they had one big chance early on which Wright headed wide. Loanee Keane then saw his shot cleared away off the line, while Garner's shot seconds later was kept out by Konstantopolous.
Both sides have plenty of options to choose from in attack in the second half. Boro in particular may turn to new striker Stuani at the break.
PRESTON SUBS: James, Humphrey, Kilkenny Woods, Browne, Brownhill, Hugill
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Mejias, Carayol, Stephens, Stuani, Nsue, Fabbrini, Forshaw
It has been a decent enough opening 45 minutes in terms of entertainment, but more will be expected of the visiting side in this second half.
RESTART! Preston get us back underway at Deepdale. No changes at the interval, with both managers opting to remain the same.
Both sides looking to up the ante a little here; Vermijl charging down the line before seeing his squared pass cleared, while Leadbitter is already enjoying more of the ball in midfield.
CHANCE! Adomah barely saw the ball in the opening 45 minutes, but already he is involved in this half. His cross was headed on by Kike, only for a deflection to take it wide. From the corner, Ayala headed wide in what was a near identical chance to Wright's.
YELLOW CARD! Kike earns himself a yellow card. Boro started this second half way judging by that little spell of pressure a few moments ago.
North End are now camped in their own half, which is not what Grayson will want to see. It might just be a case of riding the pressure before pushing on.
It's around this time that managers will be thinking of making a change, and Diego Fabbrini appears to be going through his final warm-ups on the touchline. It's taken longer that I expected for this first Boro alteration.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Adam Reach nearly gets in behind the Preston defence - something Boro have not done enough of today. That is the midfielder's last action of the day, with Fabbrini on in his place.
Downing is frustratingly flagged for offside. The former West Ham man has not had near as much influence on this contest as he would have liked. Still goalless.
Simon Grayson's men are still doing more than enough to keep Boro at bay. The Lilywhites look as though they have a goal in them from a set-piece, but it is their defensive structure which is impressing the most.
Preston are continuing to show this solid structure, which is preventing the visitors from causing any damage whatsoever. Karanka still has two changes to make, with Stuani among the back-ups this afternoon.
Not a great deal for the large travelling contingent to celebrate thus far:
CHANCE! Fabbrini has put his fresh legs to good use, attacking Preston and playing in Adomah around the back. The winger tried to round the keeper, but failed to do so to see his side's best chance of the half pass him by.
I mentioned a little earlier how tensions were beginning to flair, and things have now boiled over. A few heavy challenges have flown in, sparking a little coming together.
Play has now resumed following that little stopper. Joe Garner, who has not had a great deal of service this afternoon, sees his over-head kick fly wide of the target.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Stuani is handed his debut in place of the ineffective Kike, as Fabbrini's shot on the edge of the box is blocked away by Welsh. Meanwhile, Vermijl is replaced by Humphrey for the home side.
We are still no closer to a breakthrough goal. Both teams have had their chances, the best of which came in the opening 45 minutes, but at the moment is appears as though the points will be shared.
It has been a disappointing afternoon for Downing on the whole, who has failed to really get the better of Preston's compact defensive set-up.
SHOT! Moments after making that comment about Downing's lack of impact, he finds himself in some space and tries his luck from range. The effort was always sailing over the bar, though, and was never likely to test Pickford.
PRESTON SUB! Jordan Hugill comes on in place of Will Keane for the hosts. Both managers are now left with just one available substitution in these final six minutes or so.
Garner is unable to keep his header down from a Gallagher delivery. Will we see a late twist in Lancashire? Time is running out for a winner.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Karanka rolls the dice for the final time, bringing on Adam Forshaw for Leadbitter.
CLOSE! A chance for Preston to win it in the final minute of normal time. Just moments after Adomah saw his shot blocked up one end, Garner headed Cunningham's cross narrowly wide.
We are now into the second minute of added time, and Boro have still yet to have a shot on target. That is a shocking statistic considering Karanka's men have been so heavily backed to go up.
Adomah receives some treatment to eat further into this added time. Just a minute left to play.
FULL TIME: PRESTON NORTH END 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH
The full-time whistle has blown, meaning a hugely disappointing start to the new campaign for Middlesbrough. A point may not be the worst outcome at what is likely to be a difficult ground to travel to, yet Aitor Karanka's men - who have been backed heavily to go up this season - failed to test Pickford on a single occasion.
Simon Grayson will be delighted by what he saw, meanwhile, as his side remained solid throughout to earn an impressive point on their return to the second tier.
Well that is all from me for the time being, but Sports Mole's live coverage of this afternoon's Premier League action is now well underway elsewhere, so be sure to stick around.
