The Lancashire derby ended in a point apiece as the Seasiders remained above Preston in the Championship.

The scoreline made it three successive no score draws against Preston at Bloomfield Road in the last three meetings at Blackpool.

The draw made sure the Seasiders remained unbeaten in local derbies this season with four points now taken from both Preston and Burnley.

The start of the game resembled the FA Cup game between Manchester City and Sheffield United earlier this season when dozens of balloons occupied the field.

North End keeper Andy Lonergan was surrounded in tangerine balloons but fortunately for him, the wind managed to clear the goalmouth before any real action occurred.

First chance of the game feel to Preston midfielder Darren Carter on the left but Paul Rachubka just managed to get a touch on the ball to concede the corner.

Following that effort it was the Seasiders who dominated proceedings. Stephen McPhee won the ball inside his own half and played the one-two with Ben Burgess before racing past Youl Mawene. In the end the striker's effort just didn't have enough power to cause Andy Lonergan any kind of trouble.

Wes Hoolahan put the ball forward into the box moments later for Ben Burgess to win. The forward turned Mawene with ease, and after nodding the ball away from the grasp of Lonergan, the striker just couldn't beat the keeper a second time.

A well-worked throw-in nearly resulted in the first goal of the game. Michael Flynn came short to meet Stephen Crainey's throw before Craines took the ball back and put Wes in down the left. The Irish winger put in a great cross but the PNE defence just managed to clear. Claus Jorgensen managed to fire an effort back towards goal but that just whistled wide.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher headed over and just missed a Stephen McPhee lay-off before Ben Burgess fired wide.

Chris Sedgewick looked to reply for North End but his effort fell straight into the hands of Paul Rachubka.

The aerial threat of Ben Burgess continued to cause Youl Mawene endless problems as thedefender tugged the striker back for a free-kick. Stephen Crainey stepped up but his bending effort skimmed the roof of the net.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher then had his third chance of the game when he chested the ball down and forced a fantastic stop from Andy Lonergan on the half-volley. Michael Flynn later had a go from a routine set play before Darren Carter fired another Preston strike straight at Pool keeper Paul Rachubka.

HALF-TIME SCORE - BLACKPOOL 0 PRESTON 0

The second-half started at somewhat of a slower pace with neither side testing the opposition goalkeepers.

Efforts at goal were few and far between compared to the first. Preston looked more settled in the second and later made a chage as they replaced the ineffective Tamas Priskin with former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor.

Wes Hoolahan looked to provide a second-half opening for the Seasiders as he jinked inside a number of Preston defenders before playing the ball off to Michael Flynn. Despite a forward run, the midfielder just couldn't force enough power behind the ball to test Lonergan.

Ben Burgess later flicked the ball on to Stephen McPhee emerging on the right of the box but his effort also lacked any real power to test Lonergan once more.

The lack of any real opportunities meant that Simon Grayson introduced Keigan Parker from the bench who received a fantastic reception from the crowd. The Scot replaced Gary Taylor-Fletcher which meant that Stephen McPhee occupied the right side of midfield.

North End then had probably their best opportunity of the game when Chris Sedgewick pulled the ball back from the byline. Neil Mellor was lining up to shoot, but his strike deflected out for a corner.

Wes Hoolahan then had a speculative effort at goal before Andy Morrell replaced Stephen McPhee.

Chris Brown had a late strike in injury-time for North End but come the final whistle the derby spoils were shared.