Preston North End and Milton Keynes Dons have both missed the chance to move into the League One playoff picture, recording a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

It was Preston that started the match the better and they might have led inside eight minutes when Stuart Beavon struck an effort from close range, but David Martin made the save. Meanwhile, Ako Sodje had an effort of his own pushed wide by the MK Dons goalkeeper moments later.

The away side's best chance of the opening period came after 25 minutes when Alan Smith advanced on goal, but his strike was pushed wide by Thorsten Stuckmann.

Both sides had half-chances as the opening half approached its latter stages, but Beavon fired wide after 35 minutes before Dean Bowditch struck a poor free kick over the crossbar for the Dons.

The first real chance of the second period fell to Beavon with 55 minutes on the clock, but he fired wide of the post from close range. Preston continued to threaten as the match developed and Dons defender Darren Potter cleared a Beavon header off the line after 65 minutes.

It was the away side that looked the most likely in the latter stages of the match and they had a big penalty claim turned down when Charlie MacDonald was felled in the box by Stuckmann, but no decision was forthcoming.