Blackburn Rovers' unbeaten start to the season continues though there will be a tinge of frustration despite leaving Deepdale with a point.

Rovers had 45 minutes with a man advantage but couldn't find a way past a resolute Preston North End rearguard. Ultimately, neither team showed enough quality to break down the other in a match where defences were on top.

It was a game to draw a line under and move on, with a six-game unbeaten run from which to draw positives. Rovers huffed and puffed but didn't have the necessary guile to find a way through.

Here, The Lancashire Telegraph takes a look at the key takeaways.

Osmajic bite and what might follow

The biggest flash point was, of course, Owen Beck's red card and the immediate aftermath. The footage is damning and Milutin Osmajic can expect a knock at the door from The FA.

It's understood that Beck spoke to match officials after the game to clarify the incident, though the pictures tell their own story. It wasn't a great look for the those in charge, with the Rovers man clearly trying to explain what had happened on the pitch but was seemingly ignored.

John Eustace and Paul Heckingbottom were united in their disapproval, which was good to see. The FA will now open an investigation into the incident at Deepdale.

They will speak to those involved and, undoubtedly, Osmajic will be charged with violent conduct. He'll face a lengthy ban, with Luis Suarez ruled out for ten games back in April 2013.

It was a bizarre incident and not one you expect to dominate headlines after a Lancashire derby.

Having seen the Beck's red card back for the initial incident, I think he's given the referee a decision to make. It is probably a little on the harsh side but it's a silly thing to do and Rovers will probably struggle to get that one overturned.

Defences on top

Apart from 10 minutes at the end of each half, the game was a bit of a non-event, to be honest. It was cagey, scrappy and hard-fought, as you'd expect a Lancashire derby to be.

Preston were the better team in the first half. They pressed Rovers well but created very little. That swapped round in the second half and for 95 minutes, chances were at a premium.

The frustration with Rovers' first 35 minutes was an inability to play through the lines. They repeatedly played goal-kicks short but then went long into Yuki Ohashi, who was dominated by three towering PNE centre-backs. The change to bring Makhtar Gueye on was an obvious one and it's good that Eustace was proactive with that at half-time.

The second half disappointment is around a lack of chance creation. Rovers had plenty of the ball but just couldn't find a breakthrough. They never really looked like scoring against a well-organised defence. You have to credit the opposition sometimes and I thought Preston were very good with ten men, they managed the spaces excellently.

Rovers did make attacking changes and switched personnel. I came away wanting to see more of Amario Cozier-Duberry, who looked the brightest of the substitutes. His pace could've possibly been utilised ten minutes earlier but that is really nit-picking.

Aynsley Pears' form deserves a nod

I thought Rovers' goalkeeper was excellent at Deepdale. Whether that be with his saves, of which he made four noteworthy ones, or his presence in the penalty area.

There were two good stops in either half, with the most impressive turning away Ben Whiteman's dipping cross. He seems to be in very good form at the moment, as is the whole defensive unit after back-to-back clean sheets.

The goalkeeper is perhaps benefitting from the increased competition. Or perhaps it's just having a more stable, cohesive unit in front of him. Either way, there has been plenty of valid criticism and therefore it's only fair to highlight the good performances too. Bar a small wobble at Norwich City, he hasn't put a foot wrong this season.

Food for thought

It will be interesting to see whether Eustace freshens up some of his starting XI against Queens Park Rangers. Seven of the side that started at Deepdale have started every league match for Rovers.

I wonder whether it's time to get a flash of Cozier-Duberry from the start. Could Gueye come in and partner Ohashi, with Dolan shifting to the left?

I think Rovers would probably benefit from freshening up their forward line next time out, though that's not a negative reflection on those who have done well. But, as Eustace says, it's a squad game and Rovers need to explore all their options to find the best balance and alchemy across the pitch.

For the likes of John Buckley, Joe Rankin-Costello and Co, I wonder if they might get some minutes behind closed doors to top up their tanks. With three games in seven days to end before the international break, I think we'll see more rotation than in recent outings.