Derby County 0 PNE 0
North End picked up a valuable point at the iPro Stadium, with Anders Lindegaard not having to make a single save on his debut.
The best chances fell North End’s way as Paul Gallagher forced Scott Carson into a brilliant save with a long distance pile-driver and then late on Adam Reach looked like he could have won it until a last ditch block by Richard Keogh.
North End made two changes to the starting line-up from the last game, skipper Tom Clarke and Lindegaard replacing Eoin Doyle and Sam Johnstone respectively.
The new No.1 had very little to do in the first half, despite the home side having plenty of possession.
In fact the best two chances of the game, where a goalkeeper was forced to make a save both fell North End’s way.
On ten minutes Ben Pearson exchanged a one-two with Adam Reach – who was playing off Joe Garner - before bursting to the edge of the box and curling an effort goalwards, but Scott Carson was right behind it.
Then just before the half hour mark Paul Gallagher raced at the heart of the Rams defence before unleashing a vicious effort from 30 yards out. It was heading to the top right hand corner of the goal until it was tipped over the bar for a corner by Carson at full stretch.
With 24 minutes to go North End had a huge shout for a penalty as Calum Woods hit a Crossfield ball into the box for Joe Garner, who brought the ball down on his chest and then seemingly was brought down by Keogh, but referee Oliver Langford allowed play to continue.
With 15 minutes to go George Thorne should have been sent off after a punch in the face of Ben Pearson after a foul had been given against Joe Garner and it had flared up. Somehow Pearson got cautioned as well as the Derby No.34, his tenth of the season, meaning he would miss the next two games.
With six minutes left suddenly North End were opening up the home side and Adam Reach saw a goalbound effort blocked after some fantastic build up play involving Pearson and Garner; Keogh making the vital interception and the game ended goalless.
: Carson, Christie, Keogh, Hendrick (Bryson, 72), Martin, Shackell, Butterfield, Blackman (Camara, 67), Ince (Russell, 86), Thorne, Warnock (c). Subs not used: Grant, Baird, B Johnson, Olsson.Derby County line-up
: Lindegaard, Clarke (c), Huntington, Wright, Woods, Gallagher (Browne, 86), Pearson, D Johnson, Reach (Hugill, 90), Garner. Subs not used: Kirkland, Vermijl, Kilkenny, Doyle, Robnson.PNE line-up
: 27,252 (631 away fans)Attendance
: Mr O LangfordReferee