Source: Eurosport
Irvine - Finishing was difference
Preston manager Alan Irvine admitted the gulf in class between the sides was characterised by the finishing as Tottenham claimed a 5-1 Carling Cup win at Deepdale.
Peter Crouch netted a hat-trick while Jermain Defoe and substitute Robbie Keane were also on target for the Premier League side, with substitute Chris Brown grabbing a consolation for North End.
Irvine said: "I think the scoreline is unfair because anyone looking at the result will think we have been absolutely battered.
"But it wasn't like that. There were two things that were crucial - the finishing and giving the ball away cheaply with the quality of the players they have got.
"They will hurt you and there are some harsh lessons for us to learn. We need to be more clinical but Spurs have an outstanding choice of strikers. Two of them are England centre-forwards and the other one is a Republic of Ireland international."
