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With both sides depleted by injuries, it was a case of who was fit for both managers selections. Stan picked through the bare bones and whilst Richard Chaplow returned to the midfield, there was no sign of Luke Chadwick and overall there were just enough bodies to fill sixteen shirts with Nathan Abbey temporarily back in the reserve keeper slot.
On a bright, if cold Spring day the game began brightly with both teams set to test the other. Rob Edwards intentions were clear from the off and he left his mark on Little in two early challenges with Mr Pugh deciding that his cards were staying in his pocket, for the early stages at least.
In between, Keane tested Jensen but the effort was rather tame as was the game at this stage. Clarets first shouts for a penalty came approaching the quarter hour mark, when a double handball was adjudged as accidental by Mr Pugh before a May-West mix-up allowed Fuller his first sight of goal, thankfully the powerful shot was beyond both Jensen and his far post, though the margin of error was small.
Clarets took a deserved if somewhat surprising lead on twenty minutes. Keane's attempted clearance was poor and intercepted by the alert Little, whose clever ball inside after drawing keeper Lonergan allowed Blake the easiest of tap ins to the unguarded goal.
Cue excited Clarets fans and for a while, the home side dominated proceedings, playing much the better of the football, courtesy of a hard working attitude that denied PNE time and space all over the field. PNE rallied and Healy was denied by a superb tackle from West before Fuller livened up proceedings becoming the first of many to enter Mr Pugh's little pad of petulance.
The final third of the half was rather bitty. Moore miscued when well placed, Little was crudely upended by Cresswell and the Beast had a fine moment when soaring high to his left tipping over Healy's rasping first time drive after Chaplow had been caught in possession.
The half ended on a high for the Clarets as the influential Little set up Grant whose placed twenty yard shot almost got the better of a full stretch Lonergan. Clarets had had much the better of the half and should have capitalised on their superiority in the period as PNE could only really improve following a disappointing first half performance. HT 1-0.
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In the very first minute, Blake's quick feet set up a short pass to Camara and his dangerously whipped in cross deserved better than its unhindered passage across the goalmouth (anyone know of any strikers?), before Branch got his comeuppance after a silly trip on Etuhu, which would end the gangly midfielders game shortly afterwards, being replaced by McCormack.
Mears just beat Chaplow in a race to Little's superb through ball and a deep Branch cross was adjudged to have been chested by a disfigured Mears from inside his six yard box as Mr Pugh's eyesight wavered once more.
May entered into Mr Pugh's book, his crime was merely to stand near the goalkeeper, though of the offence supposedly committed, no one other than Mr Pugh seemed to know of.
With howls of derision being directed from the home stands towards our man in black, his parental status was confirmed moments later as play moved to the opposite penalty area, Fuller's move into the area ending in a fall when going past Camara and McGregor, Mr Pugh pointing to the spot to the amusement no doubt of many a PNE fan.
Curiously no one in lily white had seen fit to appeal such was the blatancy of the offence and win some lose some maybe a phrase that is not uttered much in the Ternent houeshold these days.
And so the howls grew even louder as Alexander finished high into Jensen's net for the dodgiest of equalisers.
Clarets tried to rally, May's back header beat Lonergan, but sadly also his far post, but as goals change games, the equaliser very much brought PNE back into a game they looked more likely to lose at that stage.
Camara's deep cross saw a Little header cleared from the line by Edwards and Blake's turn and shot finished straight at Lonergan, but by now the game was evenly balanced and Fuller was inches away from a goal after winning the ball back off West.
Keane saw red mist after a tussle with Little, but was allowed to calm down by Mr Pugh seeing fit to wave only yellow, quite why West was booked in the same incident is anyone's guess, Stan's arms once again raised to the heaven's in despair at the interpretation by one not quite seeking the freedom of Burnley via his actions.
Fuller wasted a good chance when running from the half way line, his high and wide effort not appreciated by the unmarked Healy, before Little was booked for a late, late tackle on Keane - no doubt about that one.
Alan Moore pranced on in favour of a tiring Branch and Keane was replaced by Lynch for final ten minute run outs as PNE tried to press home their late pressure in the game. Fuller's peculiar but blatant collision with West was deemed accidental by Mr Pugh after consultation, five minutes from time, the Jamaican intent on an early bath given his previous yellow card and he was certainly treading a fine line.
Lynch's kick of the ball into the empty net went unpunished, a move no doubt pleasing Robbie Blake, before a marvellous piece of show boating by Jamaican clown Fuller ended in humorous fashion in the final seconds of the five minutes of injury time.
Fuller's unnecessary acts of show boating over the ball, did not entice Little one millimetre, yet when Fuller knocked the ball side wards, Little followed suit but did not expect the flailing arm that came with the dribble.
Mr Pugh saw the act as violent conduct, waved the red card, then after allowing two whole seconds of further play blew the final whistle, a move that now sees Fuller suspended for four games. The best ending to show boating I've ever seen.
Though the sharing of the points does little for either sides cause, Mr Pugh's performance certainly lit up the lights on the local radio post match phone-ins and his ears should be burning long into the Lancashire night. FT 1-1.
Att:- 15,339.
Star Gazer
David Pugh. It is certainly a strange game when both managers and both sets of fans are calling the referee at both half time and full time and the police escort afforded as he left the pitch was most certainly warranted. Hope he sleeps well.
Beer Money
Another home game, another point, ten more required for what should prove safety. Whilst Clarets have now lost only once in nine League games, the need for a win cannot be understated from the run of recent draws as the final quarter of the season commences.
Star Geezer
This was more a collective effort than an individual one of stardom and this was a day when no one really shone, but my vote goes to Tony Grant. Another display of tireless working, solid tackling and efficient, if not startling distribution with a very good effort in the first half almost capping another typical Grantona day.
Champagne Tastes
There's one loan signing slot left this season. Whilst Stan says he's looking for another central defender can I place a marker for a striker. There were too many instances in this game of balls into the box being wasted and we desperately need someone up front who can retain the ball.