Neither side has been able to find a breakthrough in a disjointed first half of the Lancashire derby between Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers at Deepdale.

Both sides were in trouble coming into the clash with just three wins between them from their 26 matches this season but it was Bolton, on a seven-match winless streak, who nearly took an early lead when Shola Ameobi's header from Jay Spearing's corner was saved by Jordan Pickford.

Marnick Vermijl sliced wide after being teed up by Joe Garner before Garner fired a tame shot straight at Ben Amos as both teams struggled to settle into the match before the best chance of the game thus far arrived.

Ameobi was again the target as Jose Casado swung in a free kick, but the former Newcastle United striker could only head over the crossbar amid a crowd of bodies.

Eoin Doyle inadvertently blocked Greg Cunningham's header as the hosts threatened, and only two last-ditch blocks from David Wheater prevented Daniel Johnson adding to his six goals already this season as neither side managed to find an opener before the half-time whistle.