Burnley had the first effort on target and it was their only one of the game after 17 minutes when an Ian Moore header came to Jean Louis Valois and he flicked a header straight at Preston's on-loan keeper Chris Day from close range.
In the 19th minute Brian O'Neil played the ball through to Richard Cresswell and his right-foot shot from 10 yards was saved by Burnley keeper Brian Jensen's legs.
David Nugent had a shot saved after 25 minutes with the rebound falling to Cresswell but he put the ball high into the stand.
Cresswell was booked for a foul on Michael Duff in the centre circle four minutes from half time.
In the second half Roche was booked for a foul on Eddie Lewis three minutes in.
Nugent had a right-wing cross to Paul McKenna and he headed the ball low to the keeper's right but Jensen saved well.
Graham Alexander had a left-foot shot saved by the Burnley keeper from a Nugent pass and Moore had a header off target which Chris Lucketti deflected for a corner.
Nugent had a shot over the bar after a Lewis free-kick from the right wing.
The penalty was awarded with eight minutes to go when Lewis was pushed by Roche and Alexander put his right-foot penalty into the top corner sending the keeper the wrong way.
Mo Camara was booked for dissent soon after and in the four minutes of added time Cresswell had a chipped shot cleared off the line.