Preston boss Ryan Lowe admits Burnley 'deserved the three points' after Lancashire derby drubbing
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe
Preston were humbled in the Lancashire derby as Championship leaders Burnley ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Turf Moor.
Vincent Kompany's side had the lion's share of early possession, yet both teams lacked that killer instinct in front of goal until Nathan Tella's fine header after 15 minutes.
Preston failed to clear a Josh Brownhill corner and when Brownhill got the second chance to deliver the ball into the box, he picked out Tella, who could not miss from five yards out.
Preston struggled to lay a glove on the home side in the remainder of the first half and little changed after the interval as Kompany's possession-heavy style came to the fore.
After 51 minutes, Anass Zaroury blazed an effort over for the home side following an errant Ben Whiteman pass but Tella did far better four minutes later, smashing the ball home from the edge of the box after turning Preston's defence inside out.
His low-rifled shot just inched inside Freddie Woodman's near post and, if that increased the noise inside Turf Moor, his hat-trick after 58 minutes threatened to take the roof off.
Tella stayed ice-cool to thread through Woodman's legs to complete his treble and make it 14 goals for the season.
Afterwards, a chastened Ryan Lowe praised Burnley but was unhappy with some of his side's defending.
The Preston manager said: "We lost the game, so it doesn't feel good.
"I thought Burnley were fantastic in what they were doing.
"They are good goals from their behalf but from us, it could have been better.
"I don't like losing games of football, especially derbies, but Burnley were the better team and deserved the three points."
