Burnley restored some Lancashire pride to keep alive their outside hopes of promotion and put a dent in the play-off aspirations of neighbours Preston.

The Clarets recovered brilliantly from the drubbing they received at Blackburn on Sunday to clock up their most emphatic victory of the season.

Goals from Ian Moore, Kevin Ball and Glen Little proved decisive against a Preston side lacking fight.

Burnley, stuttering in recent weeks, had a dream start when Moore provided the finishing touch just four yards out to notch his third league goal since moving from Stockport after a great run down the right by Little.

Preston responded to force a couple of half chances but they were disrupted on the half hour when a clash between Burnley striker Gareth Taylor and Preston keeper Teuvo Moilanen resulted in the Finn leaving the field to be replaced by David Lucas.

Matters went from bad to worse for North End two minutes from half-time when Ball scored his first Burnley goal, a well-taken effort at the second attempt after Lucas had saved well from Taylor.

Preston introduced substitute Iain Anderson at half-time and for a while it made a difference with the winger having a couple of chances flash wide.

But Burnley put the game beyond doubt with the third goal late on, Little rifling home a right-foot shot after substitute John Mullin had combined well down the left with veteran Paul Cook.

It could have been four seconds later when Taylor got in behind a hesitant defence only to drag his shot wide.

Burnley left the field to a hero's reception by fans relieved to restore some local pride after conceding five to arch-enemies Blackburn just five days earlier.

The result means that both teams retain an interest in trying to force a place in the First Division play-offs.

Teams

Burnley: Michopoulos, Davis, Cox, West (Maylett 85), Smith, Ball, Cook, Little, Weller, Taylor (Payton 77), Moore (Mullin 67).

Subs Not Used: Crichton, Armstrong.

Booked: Taylor, Weller, Ball.

Goals: Moore 3, Ball 45, Little 73.

Preston: Moilanen (Lucas 31), Alexander, Murdock, Gregan, Edwards, McKenna, Cartwright, Rankine, Macken (Anderson 46), Healy, Cresswell.

Subs Not Used: Kidd, Gunnlaugsson, Barry-Murphy.

Booked: Edwards, Rankine, Murdock.

Att: 16,591

Ref: A Leake (Darwen).