BURNLEY warmed up for their historic clash with Aberdeen on Thursday with a 3-2 win at Lancashire rivals Preston North End.

This was a tricky pre-season test for the Clarets, especially with that Europa League clash to come at Pittodrie in 72 hours time.

Sean Dyche named what will probably be his starting line-up in Scotland from the start at Deepdale, but he took no risks with his senior men. Tom Heaton made way at half-time and then all 10 outfield players made a synchronised departure 10 minutes after the break.

With them went Dons boss Derek McInnes, who was in attendance to run the rule over his side’s opponents in that Europa League second qualifying round tie.

The presence of McInnes in the Deepdale directors box was a reminder to the Clarets that the serious business is yet to come this week, so his Clarets counterpart Dyche wouldn’t have appreciated seeing Callum Woods hack down Johann Berg Gudmundsson within the first 15 minutes, earning a booking while the Icelander underwent some treatment off the pitch.

There was also a nervous moment when Sam Vokes looked to overexert himself in stretching for a through ball, but both stayed on to soothe any nerves.

There was encouragement for Burnley while the first team were out there, as they again used possession well, with Matt Lowton an out ball down the right and his pinpoint crossing caused problems, while the youngsters that replaced them took their chance, with Dan Agyei and Dwight McNeil scoring to earn Burnley a victory.

The Clarets should have been ahead on 20 minutes. Woods gifted possession to Gudmundsson, who found Ashley Westwood in the area, he squared for Vokes but the Wales striker’s shot from 10 yards was cleared off the line by Paul Huntington, before Declan Rudd palmed away Aaron Lennon’s follow-up.

Instead it was the hosts who took the lead minutes later. Sean Maguire found a pocket of space on the edge of the area to find Josh Harrop, who fired a low shot across Tom Heaton and into the far corner from 12 yards.

Parity was restored soon after though. Lowton’s whipped cross caused panic in the North End area, the ball eventually reaching Gudmundsson, who pulled it back to Hendrick. Huntington again came to Preston’s rescue with a block, but Lennon made no mistake in lashing the rebound home from inside the area.

It was the hosts who went close twice just before the break, Callum Robinson curling a shot from distance over before Graham Burke dragged an effort from outside the box wide.

It was all change for the Clarets 10 minutes after the restart, but the replacements were involved quickly, with Ali Koiki’s cross headed goalwards by Dan Agyei, forcing a sprawling save from Rudd.

Agyei had fired a warning shot to North End though and they hadn’t heeded it. When Jon Walters cross picked the young striker out he planted a header back past Rudd to give the Clarets the lead.

It didn’t last long though. Maguire’s pass into the area eluded Jimmy Dunne as he went to clear and Robinson pounced, sliding the ball under Legzdins and in off the post.

But it was Burnley who struck late to win it. A ball into the box was headed clear by Huntington but fell to Dwight McNeil on the edge of the area, and after a touch to control he sent a sweetly-struck left-footed volley into the corner of Rudd’s goal.

Burnley: Tom Heaton (Adam Lezgdins 46), Matt Lowton (Phil Bardsley 54), James Tarkowski (Jimmy Dunne 54), Ben Mee (Kevin Long 54), Stephen Ward (Charlie Taylor 54), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Jon Walters 54), Jack Cork (Mace Goodridge 54), Ashley Westwood (Dwight McNeil 54), Aaron Lennon (Ali Koiki 54), Jeff Hendrick (Dan Agyei 54), Sam Vokes (Nahki Wells 54)

Subs not used: Josh Benson, Ollie Younger