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Roses rivals Preston and Sheffield United fought out a mind-numbing stalemate, hardly befitting two teams hoping to make the play-offs.

The two sides served up a drab spectacle for fans who braved a chilly day hoping to be entertained and left disappointed.

The first half was a complete non-event with neither side managing to mount a much of a threat and both sets of fans groaning at every misplaced pass.

Things got slightly better after the break with the Blades having a goal disallowed and sub Chris Brown missing a real sitter, spooning over from just six yards after a knockdown from Jon Parkin.

But those chances apart there was precious little else to warm the crowd on an afternoon of hard toil but no flair.

It took a full 13 minutes for the crowd to sample the excitement of a corner and from it came the first chance of the match.

Barry Nicholson swung the ball into the middle, it was cleared out to Richard Chaplow 25 yards from goal and his first time shot was saved by keeper Paddy Kenny low down.

Jon Parkin was just a quiff away from getting a flick on to a Sedgwick cross and then the striker flattened Paddy Kenny when the keeper was trying to shepherd a ball out for a goalkick, bringing a roar of approval from the big man's fan club.

Just before the half hour mark the visitors lost skipper Chris Morgan who limped off to be replaced by Leigh Bromby.

Right-back Billy Jones went thundering down the right on the overlap and hammered in a shot which smashed into the side-netting.

At the other end one-time Preston targert Darius Henderson got up to send a header bouncing awkwardly in front of Andrew Lonergan, but the keeper dealt with it comfortably.

Parkin laid on a chance for Nicholson on the edge of the area five minutes before the break, rolling the ball into his path, but the midfielder fired straight at Kenny.

Sedgwick hesitated on one chance and was blocked and moments later he dragged a shot well wide of the left-hand post much to the obvious dismay of the crowd.

Lonergan needed two attempts to hold a stinging shot from Brian Howard. And the half-time whistle came as a blessed relief to the fans of both clubs.

The second period started in more lively fashion with North End winning a corner inside the first 30 seconds and Elliott only just missing Nicholson's flag-kick under pressure from his marker.

Billy Jones was not far away from giving the visitors the lead when he sliced a right-wing cross past Lonergan and only just past his own far post. And from the corner Lonergan had to fingertip a Bromby header over the top as it looked to be looping in.

Jones went close at the right end just before the hour after robbing a United player and racing forward before hammering a shot wide of the right-hand post.

Irvine threw on Darren Carter for his first game since September in place of the ineffective Chaplow after 67 minutes. And he was involved in the build-up for Parkin to go within inches of breaking the deadlock with a cheeky back-heel which rolled just past the post from the edge of the six-yard box.

Danny Webber brought another good save out of Lonergan, the keeper acrobatically turning an angled shot over the top.

And with 12 minutes remaining United had the ball in the net only to have the goal disallowed when Stephen Quinn's shot from the edge of the box was helped on by a team-mate in an offside position.

Brown was thrown on to partner Parkin in the hope their combined physical presence might conjure up a goal. And with four minutes left on the clock the switch very nearly paid off.

Parkin nodded down for his partner, but Brown somehow spooned over the bar from barely six yards out, leaving manager Irvine holding his head in his hands in front of the dugout.

Irvine was forced to replace the left side of his team after Ross Wallace and Callum Davidson failed fitness tests on ankle and calf injuries respectively.

Youngster Eddie Nolan came in at left-back for Davidson and Chris Sedgwick returned from suspension to take over on the wing in place of chief provider Wallace.

Otherwise the boss kept faith with the rest of the side beaten 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium.

Darren Carter, whose last appearance was back in late September, was recalled to the substitutes' bench.

Sheffield United had more luck with fitness tests on defender Gary Naysmith and midfielder Nick Montgomery, both players being passed to play.

Manager Kevin Blackwell made one change to the side beaten 1-0 at home to Doncaster - a game which ended a run of nine matches unbeaten - with Billy Sharp stepping down to the bench and Brian Howard coming in.

Preston North End: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St Ledger, Nolan, Nicholson, Chaplow, McKenna, Sedgwick, Parkin, Elliott.

Substitutes: Neal, Hawley, Brown, Carter, Whaley.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Naughton , Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Halford, Montgomery, Quinn, Howard, Webber, Henderson.

Substitutes: Ward, Hendrie, Sun, Sharp, Bromby.

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).