PRESTON boss David Moyes says his side will bounce back and be stronger for the Millennium Stadium experience next season.

North End lost 3-0 to Lancashire rivals Bolton in the First Division Play-Off Final yesterday in front of 54,000 fans in an emotional day in Cardiff.

But Moyes refused to be downbeat after a magnificent season which has seen Preston shock a lot of teams by coming so close to clinching their second successive promotion -- and just missing out on achieving the goal of a return to the top flight following a 40 year absence.

"The players are down, that is to be expected, but hopefully they will learn from it," said the boss.

"And let's look at it right.

"Let's look at where these players have been and how they have done.

"For me, the difference between Bolton and Preston was Bolton's experience.

"There was only one goal in it until one minute to go and then their experience showed.

"Most of Bolton's players have been in finals before, while most of our hadn't.

"But we are certainly not going to be down.

"We have too much to be happy about.

"The North End players have played wonderfully all year and got themselves into a marvellous position to even be at the Millennium Stadium.

"There are too many good things going on at Preston North End to put us down."

Central defender Colin Murdock said: "It was a great place to play but it was a disappointing place to lose in having been so close. "It is sad but hopefully we will move on from this.

"Bolton deserved it. It was probably their turn."

Wanderers took the lead in the 17th minute through Gareth Farrelly before Preston's players sunk to their knees when Michael Ricketts netted in the 90th minute. Ricardo Gardner finished off the scoring in injury time.