Charlton coach Mark Kinsella admitted the Addicks have begun preparations for a season in League One after a 0-0 draw with Preston left them staring relegation in the face.

Phil Parkinson's side are now 14 points adrift of safety in the Coca-Cola Championship with just seven games left and could have their fate confirmed before Easter.

Neither side created a clear-cut chance in a drab game but Kinsella felt his side should have claimed all three points.

He said: "We are planning for next season and while I would like to say that we are planning for a season in the Championship we are all not stupid.

"League One is going to be difficult for all of us to take but we have got to get on with it.

"We will probably be favourites to come straight back up but it won't be that easy.

"We have got four home games left and it is up to the players to give the fans some performances now to be proud of."

One bright spark on a dismal afternoon was the performance of China international Zheng Zhi in the Charlton midfield and Kinsella admitted his time at The Valley is coming to an end.

A host of scouts were watching the midfielder - just three games back from a serious foot injury - and he could be back in the Barclays Premier League next season.

Kinsella said: "If we'd had Zizi and Therry Racon fit for the majority of the season we wouldn't be in the position we are but we have just got to get the best out of them while they are here.

"Zizi's contract is up at the end of the season and we'll have to wait and see what happens but while we've got him we're going to enjoy him."

Preston boss Alan Irvine insisted he was pleased with a point despite North End staying two points outside the top six.

The Lancashire side have the best home record in the league but their poor away form looks set to cost them a play-off spot.

Irvine said: "You have to look at the circumstances. We have been down to the bare bones before but we've stripped them even more today.

"We've had players out of position and a young lad on the bench in Adam Barton who is not ready for the first team.

"We hope he is terrific in the future but he should not be down here with us this afternoon.

"But it was that or have 15 players in the squad.

"We've had to dig deep and we could have felt sorry for ourselves but they dug in and should be commended for that.

"We try and prepare the same way for away games as we do at home but the margins are very fine in this division.

"The break will give us a chance to get a few bodies back and there are six really hard games to go."

Captain Paul McKenna was a surprise absentee but Irvine confirmed his injury was not serious.

He said: "Paul suffered a dead leg in training and he will be fine to return after the international break."