PRESTON boss Craig Brown has demanded his struggling stars put Tuesday's mauling at Wolves behind them -- after admitting that a display like that seen at Molyneux cannot happen again.

After demanding his team get out the drawing habit last week, Brown was on cloud nine when his side knocked up an impressive 2-0 victory against Derby at Pride Park on Saturday with goals from Dickson Etuhu and David Healy.

But delight turned to dismay as his side were outplayed for all bar 20 minutes of Tuesday's midweek clash at Molineux.

Two goals in the last five minutes may have meant the 4-0 scoreline didn't reflect the actual performance, but a gap is already opening up between midtable Preston and the play-off places.

Leaders Portsmouth were 15 points ahead of Preston as a result of Tuesday's game, and the play-off places six.

Craig Brown said after the game: "We have to remember this was the first time we have been beaten since the opening day of the season.

"We need to pick ourselves up and get another run going, and that starts on Saturday."

Wolves went into Tuesday's game on the back of three defeats.

They bounced back and now Brown believes his Lilywhite side will do the same.

He said: "We just have to pick ourselves up and get back to winning ways.

"I am sure the lads will be up for the weekend, they know what is at stake."

A victory won't be easy though.

Widely tipped to be on the up this season, Norwich, managed by former Blackpool boss Nigel Worthington have comfortably climbed to third in the table, with 21 points in the bag, just four off leaders Portsmouth.

But Brown expects his team to improve in several ways before they run out at Deepdale again on Saturday.

"We have got to get back to the tight way we had been playing until Tuesday.

"I didn't think we were capable of conceding four goals.

"With the first two goals we had possession and then lost it and they went upfield to score.

"That is a horrendous thing to happen and it can't happen again."