Town will feel disappointed at dropping two points away at Preston in a game largely spoilt by referee Graham Laws. The Blues had more than enough opportunities to score with Darren Ambrose particularly profligate while Marcus Bent and Matt Holland both hit the woodwork.
Town made a number of changes from the side which thrashed Avenir Beggen 9-1 on Thursday night. Hermann Hreidarsson returned to the central defence in the middle of a defensive three alongside Thomas Gaardsøe and Wayne Brown. Jamie Clapham and Jermaine Wright were the wing-backs with Holland, Magilton and Ambrose in midfield. Both Bents started in the Town attack.
The Blues were on top in the early stages and could have been ahead as early as the first minute when JimMagilton shot wide after good work from both Bents.
Preston's first effort came in the 11th minute. Rob Edwards had been found in acres of space from a freekick. He played the ball in to Paul McKenna who put his shot wide. Town's switch of formation had appeared to cause the lack of marking from the freekick with no one quite sure who ought to have picked Edwards up.
On 15 Matt Holland was fouled right on the edge of the area by Edwards. Jamie Clapham took the freekick but it was easy for Moilanen.
Matt Holland continued his metamorphosis into Roy Keane after picking up a booking for arguing about a throw-in which should clearly have gone to Town. Edwards appeared to let the ball run past him after Holland threw it to him, perhaps deciding the referee's mind regarding the booking, Holland's second of the season and his fourth of his career.
In the 23rd minute Moilanen mishit a clearance to Marcus Bent who took the ball forward with two defenders around him and unleashed a fierce shot which moved in several directions in the air. Moilanen was, however, equal to it and he tipped the ball onto the bar. From the resultant corner Wayne Brown skewed a shot well wide.
Both sides had half chances as the game began to lose its shape a little in the middle of the half. Referee Laws was determined not to play the advantage rule and to make sure all freekicks should be taken from the exact spot where the offence was committed. Despite an average of five bookings a game so far this season he seemed unwilling to punish a number of bad challenges with anything other than a freekick, but eventually Murdock committed one foul too many on Bent senior and he entered the book.
With ten minutes left of the half Preston's fans claimed a goal after a corner had curled in so Andy Marshall had to take it with his foot across the line. It was notable that the players didn't appeal and the linesman waved away the claims.
Preston started the second half the brighter side and Thomas Gaardsøe was soon in the book when he tangled with Fuller.
Despite Preston's decent beginning to the half Town hit the woodwork again on 49. Jamie Clapham sent over a freekick from the right and Holland headed against the post.
The game moved to the other end where Preston called for a penalty after the ball had struck Wayne Brown, Laws waved the protests away.
In the 68th minute, with Town making little headway against the more physical and direct home side, George Burley decided to make a change. On came Pablo Couñago and surprisingly Darren Bent made way. Marcus Bent had appeared to have an ankle injury and he had looked the favourite to be replaced.
The last 20 minutes saw Town much the more dominant side and definitely had chances enough to win it. In the 70th minute Darren Ambrose hit his shot straight at the keeper after a quick freekick had put Marcus Bent away in the middle. The ball was half-cleared for Jamie Clapham who headed back in to Bent with Ambrose taking the ball on and hitting Moilanen from five yards when he should have scored.
Two minutes later Ambrose again had a good opportunity after Andy Marshall had thrown the ball to him on halfway. The youngster took the ball forward but hit a weak shot which the Finnish keeper had no trouble with.
Another six minutes on and Ambrose had yet another chance to put Town in the lead. Once more he was one-on-one with Moilanen who saved but failed to hold onto the ball. However, as Ambrose had run through Couñago had been tugged back by Murdock, a tug which prevented him from getting to the loose ball after Moilanen's save. Town protested but referee Laws waved the protests away,
There was more controversy with eight minutes left as Couñago turned Murdock on the edge of the area. As he tried to break away his shirt was pulled back just yards from the referee who again turned away Town appeals.
On 84 there was yet another appeal for a penalty as Lucketti shoved Marcus Bent as he took a ball on his chest on the edge of the area. Once more the referee waved appeals away as boos started to ring out amongst the Town supporters.
Town continued to put pressure on while Fuller had Preston's final chance, a shot wide after a quickly taken freekick bafflingly awarded by Laws. With a minute or so left Fuller went in late on Marshall leading to a bout of handbags with Wayne Brown which was resolved without more cards.
As with the first half the referee failed to play anything like the extra time announced ending an afternoon largely spoilt by refereeing and both sets of fans booed him off.
Town ought to have won given the number of excellent chances created. Ambrose in particular should have taken his opportunities. The partnership of Marcus and Darren Bent didn't appear to work that well with the side looking like it had more shape with Couñago late on. Marcus Bent, his first half shot aside, on occasions looked to try and win the game on his own when perhaps more teamwork would have been appropriate, similarly Ambrose who, not surprisingly after the season he has had so far, seems to think he can do anything at the moment.
At the back Hreidarsson was very impressive while Brown and Gaardsøe perhaps need to work on their distribution. However, the home side rarely seriously threatened Andy Marshall's goal.
Definitely points dropped rather than a point gained, and a battling performance when it was difficult for the game to flow with the referee's whistle going for innocuous fouls every 30 seconds or so. Unfortunately, when there were more serious decisions to be made he palpably bottled out.
Town: Marshall, Wright, Clapham, Hreidarsson, Wright, Gaardsøe, Holland, Magilton, Ambrose, D Bent (Couñago 68), M Bent.