Preston North End and Blackpool fought out a keenly contested derby at Deepdale but neither side showed a sharp enough cutting edge to win the game and claim all three points.

Darren Ferguson was getting his first real taste of Preston-Blackpool derby action and once again he will not have been able to question the commitment and character of his team as PNE but in a battling performance against their fierce rivals.

There were plenty of half chances in the game, but no clear-cut chances. Danny Welbeck at the heart of North End's best opportunities, his pace taking him clear of the Blackpool defence on at least two occasions but the Manchester United loanee could not find the finish from a tight angle.

At the other end the Lilywhites had Youl Mawene to thank for a second-half goal-line clearance when DJ Campbell's header threatened to loop over Lonergan and into the net.

Ferguson kept faith with the side which had done so well to defeat Sheffield United in midweek. Coutts and James retaining their places in the centre of midfield whilst Welbeck started alongside Jon Parkin in attack.

Blackpool started with former Preston man Brett Ormerod in a three-pronged attack, he was joined by the pacey DJ Campbell, on loan from Leicester.

The opening chance of the afternoon went the way of the vistors in the fourth minute. St. Ledger mistimed a jump for a header and DJ Campbell stole a yard two on the defence. The Leicester loanee broke clear and from the edge of the box slid a low shot to Lonergan's left, the keeper had it covered though as it skimmed wide.

Fifteen minutes in and North End's first clear cut opportunity arose when Michael Hart carved a ball down the right hand channel and Danny Welbeck was away clear on goal. The Manchester United man cut in on goal but Ian Evatt closed down the striker's options with a well-timed challenge. Welbeck's cross-cum-shot sent away for a corner.

Two great chances for the Lilywhites on 20 minutes. The first came from a Ross Wallace free-kick, thirty yards out. The Scotsman had scored from a similar position in the Bloomfield Road tie and Blackpool had learnt their lesson as Wallace's effort arced towards goal, Stephen Crainey was well placed on the line to head the ball away. Parkin picked up the pieces and fed the ball out Hart on the right wing, his delivery into the box was met by the powerful head of David Vaughan who almost turned it into his own net.

Danny Welbeck had another sight at goal on 22 minutes when a ball way headed out towards the edge of the box. Welebeck set his targets and volleyed a sliced effort at goal which went just a yard or two wide of Gilks' goal.

North End worked a good move across the face of the box on 33 minutes. Wallace feed Parkin who in turn found Welbeck on the edge of the box, he shaped to shoot before slotting it to his right where Sedgwick had found space. The North End wing-man took a touch before smashing a shot a yard over the cross-bar.

Preston almost undid themselves on 41 minutes when a harmless looking ball over the top caused momentary panic in the PNE defence. Lonergan came out to claim before Youl Mawene opted to clear the ball and in doing so smahed the ball onto St. Ledger's body, luckily the ball ricocheted over Lonergan and wide for a corner.

Brett Ormerod almost put on over on his old club three minutes before the break .Crainey had time to send a ball in from the left and it curled perfectly onto Ormerod's head, the Blackpool striker glanced the ball at goal and fortunately it was straight down Lonergan's throat.

Ben Burgess hit a volley from the edge of the box in the 48th minute. The first chance of the second half. It came after Mawene had only half cleared a long ball into the Preston half, Burgess took one look up before hitting a shot which though dipping was always likely to clear the bar.

Parkin sprung the offside trap in the 50th minute when he slotted Welbeck through on the right flank. The youngster had plenty of options in the middle but chose to lay the ball back to Coutts on the edge of the box and his side-footed effort forced Gilks into his first save of the half.

Chris Sedgwick'pace took him clear of Stephen Crainey's challenge in the 51st minute. For a momentary second it looked like Sedgwick could be clear, but Crainey got back and the two tangled in the box, North End screamed 'penalty' but there was nothing from the referee.

Brett Ormerod missed a guilt-edged opportunity in the 59th minute. Taylor-Fletcher's cross from the left flank was met by Burgess' head and he sent it into the path of Ormerod who was five yards out from the goal. The former Preston man swung a leg at the ball but he couldn't get a touch on it.

North End hit back with a chance of their own on the our mark. Wallace hit a corner in from the right and it was headed clear to the edge of the box where Matt James sent a swirling volley across the face of goal. Gilks was nowhere near it but it flew just a yard or so wide of the post and crossbar.

Danny Welbeck had another chance to grab the opener in the 69th minute. The Manchester United man running onto a ball down the left channel from Wallace, Welbeck was clear but on the angle and he lifted the ball over the keeper with his right foot but it sliced wide of the goal. Sedgwick followed the ball to challenge and ensure that the ball went out for a corner but it was another good chance gone begging.

North End were looking strong midway through the second half and carved another good opportunity in the 75th minute. Welbeck played the ball out to Wallace on the left and he sent a low ball into the box, Parkin arrived late before smashing an effort just a yard or two over the bar on the run.

It was hearts in your mouths time with 15 minutes left on the clock. A ball was swung deep to the Preston far post and DJ Campbell managed to nod the ball back across goal. The ball looped over Lonergan and it took a goal-line header, against the cross-bar, from Youl Mawene to prevent the visitors going ahead.

Two minutes into stoppage time North End had one final opportunity. A free-kick was awarded for a late challenge on Welbeck on the left flank. Wallace sent the free-kick deep towards the back post it was half cleared to the edge of the box, James knocked it into a crowd of bodies and with his back to goal Welbeck almost snatched a shot at goal. The Manchester United striker's shot was only half hit though and bounced harmlessly wide.