PHIL Parkinson feels experience helped Wanderers survive an early onslaught in their 0-0 draw at Preston North End on Friday night.

After watching his side extend their unbeaten run to six games, the Whites boss gave a bittersweet reaction to a hard-fought draw which was not enough to lift the side out of the bottom three.

Indeed, Birmingham City’s win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday means the gap to safety is now three points with a home game against Reading next on the horizon.

Parkinson was disappointed with a slow start, during which Preston created plenty of opportunities, but pleased with the way his side held firm.

And that steely resolution to protect the clean sheet – Ben Alnwick’s first of the league season – is one of the main improvements Wanderers have made over the last few months, says Parkinson.

“Six unbeaten, it is coming and there’s a new-found resilience in the team; generally we’re pleased,” he said.

“We felt we could go to Preston and win but they have got some good players. They have been moaning about the injury situation but look at the bench and they’ve got four or five they’ve paid a lot of money for – so we’ll take the clean sheet and move on.

“We’ve got a good balance in there with the experience and the legs of players like Antonee Robinson, Adam, Sammy and Will when he came on.

“The older heads have been excellent in there for us and someone said to us after the Norwich game how impressed he was at how we managed the game. I think it was the same here – we were going for the win but we didn’t leave the backdoor open too many times. That’s really important; if you can’t win, you don’t get beat.”

Parkinson feared a reaction from Alex Neil’s side, who had lost their last four and been humbled 3-0 at Ipswich Town last time out.

And so it proved as the Whites defence were put immediately under the cosh in the early stages.

“It was always going to be a dangerous game, given Preston’s recent run and the fact there would be some sort of response to the result against Ipswich and the results of late,” he said.

“I thought we started slowly in the first 20 minutes, they were first to every ball, but we grew into the game and in that period where we weren’t playing particularly well we stood strong defensively and we came through that period intact.

“I can’t put my finger on why it happened – Preston just had that bit more competitive edge to them but it’s a lesson for us to learn. The experience in the team got us through that period.

“We played better in the second 45 minutes and looked more of a threat going forward – Vela got more of the ball, Sammy was excellent, Armstrong had a great chance when the keeper fumbled it and maybe we should have put the rebound in. Will Buckley came on and gave us fresh impetus too.

“We’re pleased with the clean sheet because we nearly got one the other week against Norwich, and everyone knows perceived success – or the perceived success of staying in this division – will be built on keeping clean sheets like we did last year.

“We can build on that Tuesday night against Reading.”