[themaclad]

PNE Step Up Preparations Against Burnley
North End stepped up their preparations ahead of the return to Championship action with a warm up game against Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Lilywhites took on Sean Dyche's side in an evenly contested game behind closed doors in East Lancashire, with Scott Sinclair scoring PNE's goal in a 1-1 draw against the Premier League side.

The hosts took the lead after 15 minutes, Matej Vydra with a powerful finish beyond Declan Rudd to put the Clarets ahead and it remained 1-0 at the break.



In the second half Rudd was on hand to deny Vydra a second as the striker found himself in space 12 yards out but the North End 'keeper produced a terrific save at full stretch to tip it over the bar.

Scott Sinclair then levelled the score with a superb solo goal as he made his way in to the box before taking it beyond Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope and firing in to the net beyond the defender on the line.

Sinclair nearly had a second late in the game but a brilliant double save from Pope, to deny the former Celtic man and then Tom Barkhuizen on the follow up, meant the scores remained level.

It was Burnley who then had a late chance to win it but another fine save from Rudd down to his left kept the score at 1-1.

Next up for North End's it's Championship action with a trip to Luton Town on Saturday 20th June, with the trip to Turf Moor providing a good opportunity for the squad to get a feel for playing in behind closed doors fixtures which will become the norm over the coming weeks.