GOALKEEPER Will Norris marked his first Burnley appearance with a clean sheet as the Clarets recorded a goalless draw in their behind closed doors pre-season friendly with Preston North End at Deepdale.

The stopper, who signed from Wolves this summer, played the first 45 minutes in a game where manager Sean Dyche used 20 players, as pre-season preparations step up.

In the absence of James Tarkowski, following a minor knock, there was a young centre half pairing in front of him. Jimmy Dunne and Bobby Thomas brought the average age of the back four down, with captain Ben Mee and long serving centre half Kevin Long also sidelined.

And the trio made a positive impression in an entertaining and competitive game.

The home side felt they should have won it after Scott Sinclair's shot hit the underside of the bar and appeared to cross the line when it landed.

But without the use of goalline technology for verification, referee Jeremy Simpson played on.

Clear-cut chances were otherwise at a premium, although the pace of the game picked up as it went on.

Preston goalkeeper Connor Ripley was the only player to keep his place from a side that had romped to a 4-0 Carabao Cup win over Mansfield on Saturday, and he was called into action just before the half-hour to save Dwight McNeil's low strike.

As the clock ticked towards half-time, Norris produced a good save in the opposite goalmouth to keep out Paul Gallagher's free kick from the right hand edge of the box.

Moments later, Gallagher turned provider, delivering a cross from the right that was met by Jayden Stockley at the far post.

Sinclair was on the end of the striker's header, but from a central, close range position his shot hit the underside of the bar.

Preston were adamant that the ball had crossed the line, but the officials were unconvinced and gave Burnley the benefit of the doubt.

Norris was replaced by Lukas Jensen at the break, and the young Dane also contributed to the shut-out in a second half that was punctuated by substitutions.

Joel Mumbongo, who replaced Jay Rodriguez for the final 20 minutes, almost clinched it for the Clarets. But following good work by Lewis Richardson in the build-up, Mumbongo's low strike was well saved by Ripley in the last minute.

PNE: Ripley, Rafferty, Storey, Davies, Hughes, Ledson, Gallagher (Potts 78), Bodin (Barkhuizen 82) Johnson (Bayliss 82) Sinclair, Stockley. Subs (not used): Hudson, Huntington, Pearson, Harrop, Bauer.

Burnley: Norris (Jensen 46), Bardsley (Lowton 60), Thomas, Dunne, Taylor (Pieters 60), Gudmundsson (Goodridge 70), Westwood (Benson 60), Brownhill (Richardson 81), McNeil (Elva-Fountaine 81), Wood (Vydra 60), Rodriguez (Mumbongo 70). Subs (not used): Richter, Richardson, Thompson.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Carnforth)