JAMAICAN international Ricardo Fuller was rightly named man of the match after a thrilling Lancashire derby.

He scored twice, made the third and ran the Clarets beleaguered defence ragged.

But the fact that his manager Craig Brown showered praise on Preston keeper David Lucas tells a significant tale after a game that Stan Ternent labelled "one of two halves".

Before the break Lucas might as well have kept out of the wind and rain and stayed in the dressing room as he had nothing to do but admire his team mates in front of them.

"Reggae Boy" Fuller was leading the Burnley defence in general, and Arthur Gnohere in particular, a merry dance and the big surprise was North End only led by one at the break.

Fuller had scored in the fourth minute, capitalising on a mistake by Gnohere, and only some wayward finishing denied them the greater margin their dominance deserved.

But whatever the Burnley boss said at the interval worked wonders and, with Robbie Blake in inspirational form, the match was turned on its head.

Just before half time Blake had combined with Ian Moore but saw his shot cleared from the line by Rob Edwards after skipping around Lucas.

But it was in a frantic second period that Lucas pulled off the saves that ultimately won his side the match.

"I have to mention David Lucas for his saves," said Brown. "They were very critical and there have been times when I have criticised the defence this season.

"David made a very good save at 2-1 and another very fine one at 3-1 and he deserves a lot of credit. Burnley did extremely well and they had their tails up in the second half, they were in the ascendancy."

Lucas's heroics ensured they did not turn that pressure into goals.

Burnley had got one level quickly after the break, great work by Blake releasing Glen Little into the area and his cross being expertly chipped back by Steve Davis from Gareth Taylor to head his third goal in two games.

Ternent felt his side would go on and win it but, thanks to Lucas, they didn't.

"I think we had three one on ones with the keeper and other chances that in normal circumstances we would have scored," he said.

"The keeper saved from Robbie Blake and Mooro and he put one over just when we had levelled. He did really well to get in that position and that would have put us 2-1 in front. We will just have to take it on the chin."

That chance for Moore, two minutes after Taylor struck, was pivotal. He spun two defenders and could see the whites of the keeper's eyes as he pulled the trigger but the shot ended among the Burnley fans behind the goal.

Just after the hour more magic from Fuller created a simple goal for Paul McKenna and Ternent mused: "Goals change games."

However almost immediately it could have been 2-2. Blake slipped Moore through but Lucas saved brilliantly to preserve the lead. Taylor then saw a shot blocked from close range but a goal looked to be coming.

It did - but at the other end. Marlon Beresford had no chance with the first two goals and he was even more helpless as Fuller's shot on the run deflected over his head and high into the corner of the net to make it 3-1.

Having not lost since his return to Turf Moor before the Pompey game, it was the 12th goal he had conceded in three games and in the last couple he barely made a save.

It was a different tale for his opposite number and Lucas was again in action to deny Blake as the Clarets continued to give it a real go despite the two goal deficit.

In front of Lucas, Brown also praised Chris Lucketti and Colin Murdock but the latter was lucky to be on the pitch.

Having been booked early on for a bad foul on Ian Moore he clearly pulled back Paul Weller as he broke from midfield with the scores locked at 1-1. Referee George Cain played a good advantage but should surely have gone back and booked the big defender once the ball went out of play.

Murdock escaped and although he had an uncomfortable time against the quick feet and even quicker brain of Blake, he played his part in the victory.

Blake is on fire at the moment, he is at the heart of most of the good things that Burnley are doing in attack but you Ternent knows the forward play will not bring reward if they keep leaving the back door open.

"Getting opportunities is not a problem for us," he said. "We lost against Pompey but created plenty of chances, then we scored five and lost at Grimsby.

"Then we had to score four today to win but we could have done. What we have got to do is something about that defensively."

He was not helped by a new injury for Ian Cox who had missed the Grimsby game with a knee problem and was forced to restore Davis to centre back although he admitted: "I wanted to keep Skip in the middle."

The key problem is an alarming dip in the form of Gnohere. The two goal hero of Deepdale 11 months ago, he had another nightmare although he will not face many better strikers than Fuller this season.

"Ricardo is impossible to handle when he is on form and he has not scored as many as he deserves," said Brown. "He was a great acquisition and Fuller and Cresswell are quite difficult to play against."

Gnohere certainly struggled and he often looked a forlorn figure. He has shone alongside Cox in recent weeks and Ternent will hope that his injury is not too serious.

The Burnley boss is normally protective of his side but he knows that it would have been wrong to ignore the obvious failings at the back.

He could not defend the indefensible defending and it will have to be much better on Wednesday or Spurs will cruise into the next round of the Worthington Cup.

PRESTON NORTH END 3

(Fuller 4, 66, McKenna 62)

BURNLEY 1

(Taylor 51)

Att: 16,046