Jack Cork still hoping to get to Wembley

And Clarets midfielder Jack Cork is determined Burnley make the most of their opportunity.

Eddie Howe’s men travel to Deepdale tomorrow to face rock-bottom Preston, lying seven points from a play-off place with two games in hand on sixth-place Leeds.

After the disappointment of the 5-1 FA Cup exit at Premier League West Ham on Saturday, Cork is eager to put that one to bed by completing a derby double over North End.

Preston lost 4-3 at Turf Moor in September, having led 3-1 with eight minutes remaining, and Cork expects a similarly tough examination, despite the hosts’ precarious position: “Preston is a big game.

“In the last game we played them they showed what they can do, and they can score goals.

“We were 3-1 down and we won’t want to be in that situation again.

“Our aim at the end of the season is to try and get to the play-offs and try and get promoted, so we have to forget about the defeat at West Ham as soon as we can.

“It is disappointing when you get knocked out of the FA Cup, considering you are three games away from the final and two games away from Wembley.

“To get knocked out and play so badly in the second half and know you could have done better, like we did in the first half, is a bit gutting.

“But our ultimate aim is to try and get out of this league so we have to get this out of our minds and try to get up.

“That’s going to have to be the way to Wembley.”

Cork felt Burnley let themselves down at the Boleyn Ground, given an impressive showing in the first half.

They trailed 1-0 at the break having arguably been the better side, but two goals in three minutes after the restart put the tie out of reach, and Cork said: “We felt like we played really well in the first half so it was very disappointing in the second half.

“The three early goals killed us and everyone came in really disappointed because after the three goals we played really poorly.

“There were no excuses really.

“We came in 1-0 at half-time disappointed because we played some really good stuff and created a few chances.

“Chris Eagles had a couple and Jay had a couple.

“I really enjoyed it in the first half and the way I felt afterwards, compared to the way I was at half-time is completely different.

“It was good to play against a Premier League team and try and show ourselves, and I think in the first half we did that quite well.

“The result at the end was disappointing, and 5-1 second half showed it, but the first half doesn’t reflect how we played.

“Their second goal was fortunate but there’s no excuse because we could have done better for all the goals.

“There’s no one person to blame and now we have to get ourselves ready for the league game at Preston.”