NO ROMANCE IN WAR OF ROSES
NEITHER side could find a breakthrough as two of the unfancied Championship playoff chasers went toe-to-toe at a bitterly cold Oakwell.
This was a Roses battle in every sense as the challenges were flying in almost from the first minute to the last, and the result leaves both sides stationed right in the middle of the top-six chasing pack.
Tykes boss Paul Heckingbottom was the slightly more critical of the two managers, but he acknowledged it feels like he’s “starting again” following a transfer window which saw him lose star players Conor Hourihane, Sam Winnall and James Bree.
“I was quite pleased with the way we coped with the threat offered by Preston. They’re a really strong side,” he said. “We caused them a few problems too.
“Having said that, we could have done better. We were a bit negative with our passing and we didn’t get nearly enough crosses into their box. Some of the lads should have been demanding the ball a bit more.
“At least we didn’t let Preston grind us down. I was a bit fearful of that before the game, but our fitness held out well.
“We’re still gelling. Don’t forget we’ve lost a lot of players recently, and brought a few in, so it does feel like we are starting again in a lot of respects.”
The sides couldn’t be separated after an opening 45 minutes which featured precious few chances at either end. The Tykes probably created the lion’s share of those, with Adam Armstrong nodding an early effort over the top.
Midfielder Matty James dragged a low strike inches wide, while Ryan Kent’s in-swinging corner-kick almost beat North End keeper Chris Maxwell at his near post.
The visitors’ best opportunity came when Simon Makienok headed straight at keeper Adam Davies.
There was little improvement in the second period, though again both sides went agonisingly close to nicking a precious winner.
Armstrong almost grabbed a goal when his audacious effort from 35 yards only just cleared the crossbar. And at the other end, Paul Gallagher jumped in frustration after he saw a curling free-kick fizz inches past the post.
The Tykes thought they had snatched a goal when Tom Bradshaw slid in to meet a cross from Marley Watkins, only to see striker Jordan Hugill make a frantic goalline clearance.
Right at the death Hugill headed goalwards for North End and turned away in disbelief as Davies dived full length to make a breathtaking save.
Lilywhites boss Simon Grayson said he was satisfied after the game having revealed he would have been happy to take a point before the fixture.
Grayson said: “It was probably a fair result overall. There were two resilient defences out there.
“I wasn’t expecting this game to end goalless. We’ve both done okay this season so I am surprised.
“We’ve just built on a decent performance during the week at Cardiff. We lost there of course, but we were better here.
“It was one of those games when you’re just waiting on someone to produce that bit of magic. Someone just needed to get that little break, but for one reason or another neither side could find that finish.
“It was a decent game I thought, the tackles were going in, though nobody went over the top with that.”