Paul Heckingbottom was frustrated his Preston side’s training ground work on free-kicks was thwarted by a “bad” offside decision as they earned a 0-0 draw at Burnley in the Championship.
Preston were denied a fourth-minute goal when Emil Riis timed his run on to a clever low Ben Whiteman’s free-kick to sweep a shot into the net – with television replays showing the Danish forward was onside.
Burnley, who missed the chance to go top of the Championship by failing to win, had a complaint of their own in the second half, with Jaidon Anthony denied a penalty when Robbie Brady appeared to pull him back by the shirt.
It was a scrappy derby, which became ill-tempered in the final 20 minutes, although Preston had good first-half chances, with Brady’s volley stopped awkwardly by goalkeeper James Trafford, Ali McCann firing over and Kaine Kesler-Hayden clipping the top of the bar.
Anthony had a first-half effort for Burnley saved by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, and striker Lyle Foster was denied late on by a fine block from defender Jack Whatmough.
Preston manager Heckingbottom was left to reflect afterwards on the disallowed goal.
“Yeah, that’s what’s frustrating – how hard you work,” he said. “Then the players recognise it’s on, set it up, deliver it.
“When I saw it live, I thought it was offside, but then to be told it’s onside, it’s disappointing for me, disappointing for them and the fans. It’ll not be reflected in the data, because it’s a bad decision. If that had gone in and we’d got three points, I don’t think anyone could have begrudged us that.
“In the first half, we were really good with the ball, really good without the ball. Second half became a bit more of a war of attrition, and we didn’t get in behind them as much as we would have liked. Burnley didn’t get in our box as often as they would have liked. It had much more of a derby feel to it, and became a more difficult game to manage for the ref.
“We’ve come to play a good team and really taken the game to them, which is how we want to play every game. I was really pleased with the performance. I just wish we’d have got three points.”
Burnley head coach Scott Parker, who selected the same line-up that started last Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Plymouth, admitted his team’s first-half performance against Preston was lethargic.
“It was a busy week for us,” he said. “We decided to keep the same team. The game looked a little bit lethargic for us, for sure.
“I thought the players gave absolutely everything. We faced up to the battle, which was clearly there today.
“I think everyone could see that in terms of how Preston approached the game and disrupted it, certainly in the second half, and just took the wind out of the game in certain moments.
“I think the second half, in terms of the stoppages, and how they managed the clock a little bit was obviously evident and key, and certainly when momentum was building for us, there was a pause in the game, but it is what it is.”
Parker was booked by referee Gavin Ward for his reaction after Anthony was denied a penalty.
“My reaction to it at that moment, I thought it was a clear penalty,” he said. “I’ve not looked back at it. I’ve seen a pull on his shirt.”
