Irvine's Preston scored 50 goals in 46 league games last season

Preston manager Alan Irvine has admitted that his players have to show more in the final third of the pitch following their 1-0 defeat by Everton.

North End enjoyed lots of possession against their Premier League opponents on Tuesday but could only force Iain Turner into making two saves.

Former Toffees assistant Irvine told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We got 27 crosses in which was pleasing.

"But we didn't look like scoring goals. We missed a cutting edge."

North End started the match with Chris Brown and Brett Ormerod up front. Brown was replaced just before half-time with an ankle injury by Neil Mellor with Ormerod substituted in the second half for Karl Hawley.

"I was delighted with everything up to the final third where we'll need to do better than that.

"Having said that, we've not done an awful lot of work in that area yet. That's something that we'll be turning our attention to," Irvine said.

"The hardest best is no doubt in the final third where you have got to have something a little bit more special in order to open the door."

North End will assess the fitness of Brown ahead of Saturday's friendly at Carlisle and the visit to Motherwell next Wednesday.

Irvine has admitted he does not think that the former Norwich and Sunderland striker's ankle problem is too serious.

"He's rocked his ankle and hopefully it's nothing major. The first reports that I got is that it is nothing major but I'll certainly be getting a full report on it."