CRAIG Brown revealed the mind game he played with Ricardo Fuller which helped the Jamaican on to bag a brace and set up a third against Burnley.

Back from a three game ban for a bizarre red card dished out at Bradford last month, Fuller was told by Brown to prove he was worth a place in the starting line-up.

"I told him we had scored in the three games without him and that he had to prove I was right to put him back in straight away," said Brown.

"He didn't let me down!"

Fuller proved just how useful he can be after just three minutes when a poor Arthur Gnohere header let in the Jamaican, who passed out wide to Eddie Lewis.

Fuller than ran into space in front of goal, and ripped home the return cross from Lewis.

Preston went on to spend most of the first half in the ascendancy, but Richard Cresswell was among the chief offenders in those who didn't convert their chances.

His strike late in the first-half should have sent North End in two goals to the good, but instead it just went wide.

Burnley were rampant in the opening of the second half, and within moments of the re-start Gareth Taylor headed home after Steve Davis had returned Glen Little's cross.

Ugly scenes ensued as the Burnley fans ran on to the pitch, one confronting David Lucas, who, to his credit, kept his cool.

For once, the heads of the Preston team didn't drop and insteads they pushed for the equaliser, which Paul McKenna scored when he converted Fuller's cross on 62 minutes.

Lucas was then called into aciton with the save of the game, stopping Ian Moore's shot. It was a save which brought praise from manager Craig Brown, who was overall delighted with the performance of his team.

Four minutes later and Fuller floated in a wonderful ball from the edge of the area which took a deflection with past Marlon Beresford.

Brown said: "Lucas had a great game and I am very pleased with the performance of our midfield. They are all young lads, but they played well."

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