Preston were guilty of missing a host of chances as they were held to a goalless draw by Stevenage.

Neil Mellor fired wide when put through on goal by Adam Barton as the home team started on top.

He was again off target after latching on to Lawrie Wilson's defensive error before Boro substitute Darius Charles forced a save from Thorsten Stuckmann.

Danny Mayor's powerful shot struck the outside of the post for the Lilywhites late on.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Stevenage manager Graham Westley told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"Look at the corner count and it will probably tell the story that we put them under a lot of pressure over the 90 minutes and had our set-plays been of a better quality we might be sitting here with the three points.

"Our creative play on the whole is forcing sides to defend deep and give away set-pieces. We just aren't making enough of them.

"Their manager [Phil Brown] spent the afternoon talking about 'non-league, non-league', and was disrespectful to our players all afternoon.

"He wants to have a look at his team and some of the conduct that was going on out there. I thought some of their challenges were horrific."

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)

Preston North End

  • 01 Stuckmann
  • 02 Gray
  • 03 McLaughlin (Tsoumou - 89' Booked )
  • 06 Morgan
  • 22 Alexander (Smith - 3' Booked )
  • 39 McCombe
  • 15 Barton Booked
  • 16 Mayor
  • 17 Parry (Hume - 46' Booked )
  • 38 Doyle Booked
  • 33 Mellor

Substitutes

  • 21 Turner
  • 05 Carlisle
  • 14 Smith
  • 07 Hume
  • 11 Tsoumou

Stevenage

  • 16 Day
  • 02 Wilson
  • 03 Laird
  • 05 Ashton Booked
  • 06 Edwards (Harrison - 78' )
  • 14 Roberts
  • 13 Byrom
  • 24 Bostwick Booked
  • 32 Shroot
  • 15 Freeman (Aneke - 60' )
  • 20 Beardsley (Charles - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Julian
  • 04 Charles
  • 08 Long
  • 22 Aneke
  • 26 Harrison
Ref: Mohareb
Att: 9,425

Match Stats

Shots

12 14

On target

4 9

Corners

6 11

Fouls

13 15

Live Text Commentary

94:23

The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +3:32 Booking

Booking Iain Hume goes into the book.

90:00 +1:54 Booking

Booking Juvhel Tsoumou receives a caution for dissent.

90:00 +1:01

Shot by Iain Hume. Save by Chris Day. Shot from deep inside the area by Neil Mellor goes over the bar.

89:32

Corner taken right-footed by Robin Shroot, save made by Thorsten Stuckmann.

89:12

Shot by Chuks Aneke. Blocked by Craig Morgan.

88:05 Substitution

Substitution Juvhel Tsoumou on for Conor McLaughlin.

87:10

Craig Morgan has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Blocked by Mark Roberts.

86:54

Danny Mayor has an effort at goal from 20 yards.

84:49

The ball is sent over by Scott Laird.

84:22

Byron Harrison takes a shot. Save made by Thorsten Stuckmann.

81:49

Danny Mayor has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area hitting the post.

79:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lawrie Wilson on Danny Mayor. Iain Hume crosses the ball in from the free kick, Michael Bostwick manages to make a clearance.

79:25

Shot by Darius Charles. Save by Thorsten Stuckmann.

78:44

Effort from the edge of the area by Danny Mayor goes wide of the right-hand upright.

78:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Barton by Jon Ashton. Steven Smith restarts play with the free kick.

77:42 Substitution

Substitution Byron Harrison comes on in place of Phil Edwards.

77:28

Chuks Aneke has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

76:36

The ball is swung over by Danny Mayor.

75:40

Iain Hume produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

75:40 Booking

Booking The referee shows Michael Bostwick a yellow card.

75:32

Foul by Michael Bostwick on Danny Mayor, free kick awarded.

74:07

Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Save made by Thorsten Stuckmann.

73:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by Neil Mellor on Mark Roberts. Jon Ashton restarts play with the free kick.

70:58

Phil Edwards fouled by Iain Hume, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Laird.

69:49

Neil Mellor has a drilled shot. Blocked by Jon Ashton.

68:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Barton on Michael Bostwick. Scott Laird takes the free kick.

67:00

Shot from long range by Chuks Aneke misses to the left of the goal.

66:00

Corner taken by Robin Shroot from the left by-line to the near post.

64:56

Unfair challenge on Darius Charles by Craig Morgan results in a free kick. Robin Shroot takes the free kick.

63:38

Shot from just outside the area by Chuks Aneke misses to the left of the target.

62:53

Michael Bostwick fouled by Nathan Doyle, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Laird.

62:24

Joel Byrom concedes a free kick for a foul on Iain Hume. Craig Morgan restarts play with the free kick.

61:16

Effort from deep inside the area by Neil Mellor misses to the left of the goal.

60:50

Corner taken left-footed by Steven Smith.

59:24

Steven Smith takes the free kick.

59:24 Substitution

Substitution Luke Freeman goes off and Chuks Aneke comes on.

59:24

Foul by Joel Byrom on Danny Mayor, free kick awarded.

59:02

Adam Barton takes a shot. Mark Roberts gets a block in.

58:08

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Robin Shroot.

57:08

Unfair challenge on Iain Hume by Mark Roberts results in a free kick. Craig Morgan takes the free kick.

54:05

Free kick crossed by Steven Smith, clearance by Jon Ashton.

54:05 Booking

Booking Jon Ashton booked for unsporting behaviour.

53:56

Foul by Jon Ashton on Neil Mellor, free kick awarded.

50:37

David Gray produces a cross, save by Chris Day.

49:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darius Charles on David Gray. Direct free kick taken by Thorsten Stuckmann.

47:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Morgan on Darius Charles. Free kick taken by Robin Shroot, Thorsten Stuckmann sends in a cross,

45:35

Unfair challenge on Steven Smith by Phil Edwards results in a free kick. Steven Smith restarts play with the free kick.

45:13 Substitution

Substitution Chris Beardsley goes off and Darius Charles comes on.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Preston) makes a substitution, with Iain Hume coming on for Paul Parry.

45:00 +2:05

The first half comes to an end.

44:30

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Paul Parry played to the near post, clearance made by Chris Day.

43:50

Danny Mayor fouled by Robin Shroot, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Parry restarts play with the free kick.

41:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Bostwick on Neil Mellor. Steven Smith takes the free kick.

40:38

Jon Ashton concedes a free kick for a foul on Neil Mellor. Adam Barton takes the free kick.

40:37

Danny Mayor takes the inswinging corner, Mark Roberts manages to make a clearance.

39:37

Shot by Joel Byrom. Conor McLaughlin gets a block in.

38:35

Corner taken left-footed by Paul Parry, Chris Day manages to make a clearance.

37:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Freeman on David Gray. Paul Parry takes the direct free kick.

36:27

Header by Chris Beardsley from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

34:29

Chris Beardsley takes a shot. Blocked by Conor McLaughlin. Corner taken by Robin Shroot from the right by-line, Header on goal by Chris Beardsley from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

34:01

Paul Parry takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Roberts.

33:17

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Steven Smith.

31:20

Robin Shroot has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Nathan Doyle gets a block in.

30:05

The assistant referee signals for offside against Neil Mellor. Chris Day takes the indirect free kick.

29:05

The official flags Neil Mellor offside. Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

28:14

Free kick crossed left-footed by Scott Laird, save by Thorsten Stuckmann.

28:14 Booking

Booking Steven Smith booked for unsporting behaviour.

27:55

Steven Smith concedes a free kick for a foul on Robin Shroot.

25:56

Effort from inside the area by Neil Mellor misses to the right of the target.

25:16

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Mayor to the near post, Mark Roberts manages to make a clearance.

25:04

Steven Smith delivers the ball, Lawrie Wilson makes a clearance.

22:12

Luke Freeman takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Paul Parry. Inswinging corner taken by Luke Freeman from the right by-line, save by Thorsten Stuckmann.

21:24

Unfair challenge on Lawrie Wilson by Danny Mayor results in a free kick. Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

19:09

Shot by Phil Edwards. Save by Thorsten Stuckmann. Corner taken right-footed by Luke Freeman. Corner taken by Robin Shroot from the left by-line, Thorsten Stuckmann makes a save.

18:11

The offside flag is raised against Neil Mellor. Chris Day takes the free kick.

17:47

Robin Shroot takes a shot. Blocked by Conor McLaughlin.

16:32

Robin Shroot delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance made by Jamie McCombe.

16:32 Booking

Booking Caution for Adam Barton.

16:16

Foul by Adam Barton on Joel Byrom, free kick awarded.

15:26

Conor McLaughlin challenges Chris Beardsley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Lawrie Wilson.

13:39

Luke Freeman challenges Adam Barton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the free kick.

12:55

Unfair challenge on Neil Mellor by Joel Byrom results in a free kick. Steven Smith restarts play with the free kick.

12:07

Luke Freeman decides to take the corner short.

11:49

Luke Freeman takes a inswinging corner.

11:35

Luke Freeman takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Paul Parry manages to make a clearance.

10:31

Lawrie Wilson fouled by Steven Smith, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Scott Laird, clearance by Nathan Doyle.

10:17

Inswinging corner taken by Danny Mayor from the left by-line played to the near post, Scott Laird makes a clearance.

8:39

Jon Ashton fouled by Neil Mellor, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Laird takes the free kick.

7:32

Direct free kick taken by Scott Laird.

7:32 Booking

Booking Caution for Nathan Doyle.

7:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Doyle on Chris Beardsley.

6:11

Neil Mellor is ruled offside. Chris Day takes the free kick.

2:47 Substitution

Substitution Graham Alexander goes off and Steven Smith comes on.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association