Local rivals Preston and Blackpool drew for the second time this season following a 0-0 stalemate at Deepdale.
Chances at a premium between Preston and Blackpool
Local rivals Preston North End and Blackpool drew for the second time this season following a 0-0 stalemate at Deepdale.
The derby foes had drawn 1-1 at Bloomfield Road earlier in the campaign, but goalscoring chances were at a premium during the return meeting.
Danny Welbeck perhaps had Preston's best opportunity in the first half, while DJ Campbell struck the bar in the second period for Blackpool and former Lilywhites striker Brett Ormerod also missed from close range.
The opening was relatively scrappy but it was the travelling Tangerine army who were brought to their feet when Campbell should have done better from the edge of the box.
Blackpool showed the most promise going forward and David Vaughan volleyed over the crossbar with 15 minutes gone after Matthew James was robbed of the ball in midfield.
Moments later Preston had what was perhaps the best chance of the first half. Welbeck was sent racing through on goal after Chris Sedgwick produced an inch-perfect pass.
Furious
But Rob Jones, who was furious with the linesman for not flagging for offside, charged back and put in a well-timed tackle to divert the ball wide just as the Manchester United loanee looked to pull the trigger.
Alex Baptiste cleared a curling free-kick from Ross Wallace off the line in the 20th minute, while Welbeck should have asked more of visiting goalkeeper Matthew Gilks with a volley.
North End keeper Andy Lonergan was forced to tip over a header from Ian Evatt before Paul Coutts got a vital touch on a Vaughan corner which somehow ricochet goalwards.
Ben Burgess rustled the roof of the net with a volley which dipped late and had Lonergan panicking just after the break.
The Lilywhites carved out a chance of their own when Welbeck pulled back for the advancing Coutts who stung the palms of Gilks with a first-time drive.
Jon Parkin glanced a header just wide of the left-hand post in the 57th minute as the home side looked to apply some pressure.
But minutes later Ormerod mis-kicked what looked like a simple tap-in from three yards after Burgess had cleverly nodded down.
North End midfielder James went close with an ambitious volley from 35 yards, while Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who was always stretching, skied a shot as the game opened up.
Campbell narrowly missed the target for Blackpool, while at the other end Parkin could not quite supply the finish following good link-up play involving Sedgwick and Welbeck.
A combination of Youl Mawene and Lonergan then helped divert a looping Campbell header onto the crossbar as Preston held on for a share of the spoils.
