PRESTON manager David Moyes slammed his side's defending as 'atrocious' after their 3-0 defeat at Turf Moor.

North End leaked two first half goals to Ian Moore and Kevin Ball before Glen Little added number three on the break in the second half.

It wasn't North End's worst defeat of the season -- they lost 4-0 at Gillingham in December -- but it has dented their play-off hopes as they could slip out of the top six depending on today's results.

"If you defend as bad as we defended then you deserve to lose," said ashell-shocked Moyes who had seen his side lose only one of their previous ten games.

"We had more of the ball, maybe as many chances, but Burnley got the goals and deserved to win."

Paul McKenna was unable to block Little's right wing run in the third minute and the static defence left Moore unmarked six yards out to give Burnley the early advantage.

Substitute keeper David Lucas pulled off two wonder saves to deny Gareth Taylor and then Ball just before the break but Ball made it third time lucky to put Burnley 2-0 up.

And Little's third, as Preston were pressing after the break, killed off the game with the marking once more letting North End down.

In truth, Preston never got started and the three youngsters up front -- Jon Macken, Richard Cresswell and David Healy -- struggled to get a sniff on goal.

Usual playmakers Paul McKenna and Lee Cartwright couldn't make an impact on the wings while the defence -- with skipper Sean Gregan returning from midfield to his back four role to replace the injured Michael Jackson -- looked shakey on every attack. Moyes changed his 3-4-3 formation to 4-4-2 in the second half, taking off top scorer Macken, in a bid to salvage something from the game.

And it almost paid off when substitute Iain Anderson managed to get the better of the Burnley defence for once but he fired his shot, from eight yards out, just inches over the crossbar.

It was their only real chance although Macken did have a shot blocked on the line in the first half by Paul Smith but Preston never got out of first gear throughout the game.

"I felt I had to change it at half-time," admitted Moyes. "We had to try and take people on and create a goal which we hadn't done in the first half.

"It was just a case of trying something different.

"In the first half our defence was atrocious. We never gave ourselves a chance to get into the game, with the first goal on three minutes. Then you are obviously chasing the game.

"We were wide open and that encouraged Burnley.

"In the second half we had a lot of possession but I thought Burnley defended very well and we did not have the cutting edge."

Moyes would not be drawn on Taylor's tackle on North End goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen which left the Finnish international with a sprained ankle. He had to be replaced on the half hour.

"I would have to have a look at that on television before commenting," he said.

Meanwhile, Moyes is hoping his side 'do a Burnley' on Tuesday night. As the Clarets bounced back following the 5-0 thumping by Blackburn on Sunday, he aims to do the same at Deepdale against Huddersfield.

"Burnley were certainly hurt by the criticism they received after Blackburn.

"They were more determined in every tackle and every challenge.

"Their players look like they have responded to what has happened on Sunday.

"I hope we now do the same on Tuesday," he added.