Manager Darren Ferguson admitted that key moments either side of half-time went against his side in the FA Cup fourth round defeat to Premier League leaders Chelsea.

"I thought there were quite a few positives to take out of the game," said the gaffer. "I think the pivotal moments were just a minute before half-time and two minutes after it.

"Darren Carter has missed a fantastic chance to level the game and at half-time we said we'd have chances. We knew they'd have a lot of the ball because of the way we lined up against them, but we were patient and restricted them to shots outside the box. Darren's missed a great chance, Chappy's had a chance and then to lose the second goal from a set piece, it deflates everyone.

"But I could have no complaints from my players I thought they performed fine. There are always key moments in games where if you get a little bit of luck it changes your way, but I thought my lads gave Chelsea a game and we had chances."

The golden opportunity came from a good piece of play by the Lilywhites: "Browny had peeled on the full backs, which we talked about. Harty played a great ball in and I am not sure if he [Carter] was off balance, but if it goes in we come in at half-time buoyant - they were anyway, because we were still in the game, but we have lost another goal for a set piece which is hugely disappointing."

Ferguson made three changes to the line-up in his first game and also changed the shape: "I brought Michael Hart into the team who is a talker and organiser, Youl is a good organiser. It was unfortunate for Neill [Collins], who was disappointed, but he understood the reasons why I was doing it.

"We had opportunities and we knew that we would have. If we got the full backs further forward and got crosses and set pieces in then we had a chance. They have conceded 14 of their 18 goals from set pieces and whilst we didn't look for much off them. We knew it was going to be a difficult game, but we have definitely not disgraced ourselves."

But now the side have to take the level of performance into a massively important run of games back in the Coca-Cola Championship: "We have got massive games coming up. It has been a difficult start and it gets no easier as I go back to my old club Peterborough on Tuesday.

"I know what I want in the Club, but it is not easy getting it. I know what we need to improve and to freshen up and hopefully if we can get the players in it will freshen it up. A few of the players are possibly lacking belief because of the way results have gone over the past few months, we just need maybe one win and then we can get up and running.

"I think they'll get belief from the performance. They'll know they've given Chelsea a bit of a game. I don't mean that as a whole group, I think just a couple of individuals need belief and we'll try and get that back into them with better performances. Full credit to my lads; what we worked on they did well and I have no complaints about the performance, we just needed a bit of luck.

"It was a great game for everyone; in a way we had nothing to lose. We weren't just making up the numbers, I felt we gave them a game. There are times when they look really pretty and they pass it about, but I thought that was where our shape was good and we broke on them pretty quickly and you just need a little bit of luck in the Cup.

"That's what you have to aspire to every week. That has to be the inspiration after today. It was a full house and the fans were magnificent - they gave me a good reception and think even early doors they appreciate how we want to play."

Looking ahead to the next game, the manager and his staff return to London Road, where he is hoping for and expecting a good reception: "There's probably not a better place to get my first win for Preston. It will be a difficult game and with me going back there it will probably make it that little bit more difficult, but the positives that we'll take out of it we'll look at on Sunday. If we can get that win I think we can kick on.

"I think we'll get a good reception. I'd like to think so after the staff and I got back to back promotions, so I'd be slightly disappointed if we didn't, but we are going there to win the game, simple as that."