North End's unbeaten start to the season continued at Hillsborough with a late equaliser from Richard Chaplow. Sean St. Ledger revealed how North End's tough pre-season preparations served them well in the game.

"Today was tough at first because it started off at a high tempo but they weakened in the second half, our fitness showed and we probably could have nicked it with a couple of chances," North End's No.12 told the official website.

The big central defender admitted that North End were not up to the standards they had recently set in the first half, but said that it was a good result and revealed that there was a sense of disappointment in the dressing room.

"At half-time we were lucky to get in at 1-0 and if you'd said before the game that we would come away with a point from Hillsborough then we would have taken it, because it's a good point.

"But we had a couple of chances and on a different day they could have gone in.

"The gaffer said he was disappointed and in the second half they didn't really trouble us, I think Lonners just had the one shot to save from the free-kick."

Both sets of fans were equally unhappy with a number of decisions the referee made and North End will look to an early disallowed effort by Simon Whaley and a late foul on Karl Hawley when through on goal as denied opportunities.

Ledge admitted that it is always difficult being the away team: "I didn't think the ref did too bad, nine times out of ten when you play away from home you don't get the decisions you would when you play at home."

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