There had been criticism going into Friday's derby game that Preston had been putting in less than 100% over the past few weeks with safety assured and no chance of a top six finish. Add to that Kevin Friend as the referee and the odds were stacked against Preston from the start.
To say that a deflected free kick was the difference between the two sides would be unfair and there could have been more goals. Preston were interuppted early on when Pearson went off injured and the home team had no protection in front of the back four.
The goal came early on. Burnley were awarded a throw in. We won't quibble about the extra yards stolen down the sideline which is the norm these days but the throw in led to a soft free kick just outside the box.
Barton took the free kick which Borwne unwittingly got his head to and it diverted past Kirkland who was deputising for Lindegaard who was still suffering from a shoulder injury.
Preston has started quite brightly up to the goal but thereafter it was all the visitors who tried to make the game secure. North End held firm despite various balls flying around the box and missed chances for the visitors.
Barton was running the game and even had Kevin Friend in his pocket. At time he would purposely not jump for the ball, look at the referee as if to say not my fault and Friend certainly was Burnley's pal.
All marginal decision went to the visitors although there were only a couple of major incidients with Garner being booked after being shoved and Beckford being fouled in the box when attempting to shoot but naturally no penalty was given.
The referee wasn't the difference in this game but how he was appointed is still a talking point given the way he has handled this fixture in the past.
Burnley should have scored in the second period. Gray had a shot from an angle which hit the post and Boyd looped one from distance onto the bar.
Preston then came back into the game. Beckford has a header he should have done better with and Johnson was put through but on his right foot made a save easy for Heaton.
It would have been undeserving for Preston to have equalised and they now meander towards the conclusion of what has been a relatively successful season.
The irony was lost on Kevin Friend towards the end when he insticintively rished over to the Burnley player taking the throw in telling him to hurry up. Several years ago that was a straight booking. The irony was probably lost on Kevin Friend and his sending off of Billy Jones.
Radio Lancashire had the ever balanced opinion of Paul Weller suggesting that Preston played for all of ten seconds in the game. Thanks for that one Paul. His incite was that Preston needed to hrow some money at the top end for Preston to compete. Again, any spare millions would be appreciated but as is the case when the opposition striker costs more than your entire suqad there isn't much that can be done.
North End now face Reading before a final home game against Leeds.