Preston North End 1 Burnley 1 - Tony Dewhurst's big match verdict

PREPARE to light the blue touch paper, retire to a safe distance, and wait for a loud explosion!

Has the countdown begun to launch Burnley's season into promotion orbit?

After a series of aborted missions-are Burnley finally ready for take-off?

The Clarets have threatened to fire themselves out of Mission Control since August.

But too many times their Turf Moor booster rockets have failed.

Remember the launch-pad disasters at Gillingham and Rotherham?

The Turf Moor test flights against Bristol City and Shrewsbury.

They all ended on the scrapheap.

But it is four games unbeaten now. And that fact alone is cause for quiet satisfaction.

Not an explosion of form, far from it, but that little sequence represents Burnley's best run of results since the campaign kicked into life 12 weeks ago. Two wins and two draws. Success over Notts County and Plymouth. A precious point at Watford and now this share of the spoils in the white-hot atmosphere of a Deepdale derby.

All of a sudden Burnley are on auto-pilot. It's a fair return and a solid foundation to build on.

And it leaves the Second Division's leading pack glancing nervously in their wing mirrors at the mounting Burnley challenge.

But make no mistake, Burnley had to battle every inch of the way.

The Clarets, in fact, had to haul their way back into contention with a second half show of conviction, strength and courage.

But before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let's get one thing one straight.

This was a Lancashire derby which always lived up to it's pre-match hype and billing.

I defy any fan, from either camp, to say they didn't get their money's worth at Deepdale.

Never short on incident or passion, this high-octane encounter left the fans gasping for breath. Blood and thunder from the first whistle to the last, it was red rose football passion at it's best.

There was so much to savour.

Burnley's slow build-up, contrasted sharply with Preston's up-and-at-'em approach, which proved so effective in the first half.

The Clarets, like their opponents, were unchanged from the weekend, and set about their task with fire and gusto.

Burnley, though, showed how dangerous they could be on the break, Paul Barnes scooping an early opportunity only inches wide after a rapid break.

But it was Preston who grabbed the initiative to force their way in front.

The early Deepdale ammunition arrived from the flanks with highly-rated winger Kevin Kilbane on the left, and Micky Brown, roving along the right flank, pulling the strings.

They both found precious space behind the Clarets wing-backs and threatened to open Burnley up as the pressure mounted.

Old Turf Moor favourite David Reeves, in particular, was a constant menace and, if anyone was going to find the net, it was always going to be the tall, blond-haired striker. You can bet your bottom dollar on a player scoring against his former club, can't you?

And Reeves-Preston's £300,000 record signing and a forward who spent a short spell on loan with Burnley-was the man to hit the net.

The danger began for Burnley as Nigel Gleghorn prevented a Reeves raid.

The resulting corner saw a swift interchange between Kilbane and Brown.

Kilbane swung the centre in and Beresford, under pressure from two Preston attackers, promptly dropped the ball at Reeves' feet.

He made no mistake, prodding the ball home from close range.

Gleghorn had earlier stopped a Gary Bennett effort, but the Burnley skipper was to play a pivotal role in the Clarets equaliser.

The North End defence simply went AWOL as Paul Smith began a swift four-man move, which was to finish with the ball in the back of the Preston net. Smith fed Gleghorn who, in turn, found Gary Parkinson. Paul Barnes and Kurt Nogan carved out the space and Nogan hooked the ball home.

It was "game on" as the action swung from end to end.

Reeves twice went close for Preston and the menacing figure of Gary Bennett headed only inches wide.

Paul Barnes was denied at the other end as Burnley continued to look highly dangerous on the break.

Marlon Beresford made swift amends, saving substitute Neil McDonald's wicked free kick.

Beresford, though, produced the save of the game in the dying moments to deny former Blackburn Rovers striker Michael Holt.

Another priceless point away from Turf Moor.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.