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He said: "We don't ask the players anything different when they fight for the ball, when they battle for the ball, we want them to get it down and play. We showed that little bit of quality for the goal that we scored in the first half but it wasn't enough.
"Consequently the goal that they scored, they might claim it as quality but I class it as poor defending. We don't win the first one, we don't deal with the second one and consequently we allow a wide player to come inside our full back and get an open shot on goal.
"For me it is easy defending. We talk about the pressures of the game, you always refer to basics and our basics at that instant was poor. Now we find ourselves 1-1 going in at half time as opposed to 1-0 up.
"Second half again there was fight and commitment in the battle. It was a proper derby match as far as I was concerned and maybe in pursuit of trying to go for the win and going 4-2-4 we've ended up losing it."
Asked about Burnley's direct style, he added: "There's talk about direct football or route one football or whatever you want to call it, but when you've got Chris Iwelumo up front you are going to play to his strengths and Chris Eagles, Jay Rodriguez, the lad Wallace, their licence is to go anywhere on the field of play and it is up to you to deal with it.
"We dealt with that on Thursday in training, we dealt with that on Friday in training and Chris Brown was our Chris Iwelumo in training so you've got exactly the same kind of player. We did that in training on Thursday, we did that in training on Friday and then for one instant in the first half we didn't do it.
"But as I say I don't know what's going through the heads of some of the players but when the pressure mounts during the course a game you revert to normal, your revert to type, you go back to your basics of why you are playing the game of football and if you are a defender and you have got a five on your back you head the ball and if you are a six you cover round and if you are a two you come on the inside and pick up the second ball, same as a three, so all of these things are basic defending and we just didn't do it.
"In hindsight we would have taken a point because at the end of the day in the pursuit of trying to win the game we have lost it. There's more than one way to skin a cat, I know there is. We were playing with Eddie Johnson, Nathan Ellington, Iain Hume and Keith Treacy and then all of a sudden we brought on Darren Carter to try and shore up a wee bit.
"I am just asking for quality at both ends of the field, quality defending between the ears and quality hold up play that allows your midfield players and your whole team to be able to build and get the ball into the final third with a little bit of class and a little bit of quality and that produces the goods.
We didn't do that enough today and I felt as if we accepted the role of the slaves of the battle and forgot to play."
For Eddie Howe it was a first Lancashire derby and he was delighted to have come out on top, especially with the decision to push for a winner.
"We had a little chat on the bench and we came to the conclusion that a point wasn't any good for us, so we chased three," he said. "Football being football, sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn't.
"On this occasion it has and we are delighted because three points makes all the difference. We knew the importance of the game today and we hoped to get all three points and thankfully the lads delivered a really professional performance in difficult conditions.
"The game lacked a little bit of quality and it was blood and thunder with both teams going at it, so we are just delighted. It was never going to be a pretty football match but we did the nasty bits right and I thought our two centre halves were outstanding.
"We trailed again, so it's pleasing to come back and it gives me great heart. The lads' character and determination were evident."
Speaking about the two goals, Howe added: "Jay's was a good finish, but the second goal was just fantastic. It's a fantastic cross from Wade Elliott and Jack attacked it where the boots were flying. I'm so please he scored because he has been a really consistent performer for me, week in and week out."
And how was the first Lancashire derby for him? "The atmosphere was fantastic and I have to say the travelling support and the noise they made was fantastic. I am just pleased they go home happy and want to continue this run now.
"It's lovely to be back at home in the next game and to end this really tough run of away fixtures as we have makes it a really good effort from the lads."