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"It was awful," he admitted. "We started awfully and when you concede three goals in just over ten minutes it is so difficult to get something back, and we struggled for the whole first half because of that.
"We looked nervous and we gave the ball away and we were more vulnerable because of the first goal but there was no reaction, and after three goals so early you come in at half time and there are some harsh words to be said.
"Of course I had to shout at them at half time, and we had some more words to say afterwards. After half time it was up to the boys to change their game and I told them that our subs had the right to get on in the second half. We played very well and I thought we deserved an equaliser because we had enough chances.
"The passion, heart and power was there in that half, but it's frustrating because you sit down on the bench at the start and before you know it, it was 3-0 and you're totally out of it."
Poortvliet was quick to offer praise to his goalkeeper Kelvin Davis despite him failing to deal with Steven Caldwell's header leading to the second goal. "We know Kelvin is always there and has saved us this season a lot of times," Poortvliet said. "He and Chris Perry both made mistakes but they are real professionals and they go on. Kelvin and Chris did that and that's part of the job because when you make a mistake you have to keep going."
Owen Coyle meanwhile was overjoyed with the way the Clarets played for most of the game. He said: "We are a very good side and that's been borne out. It's not easy to pick up three points in the Championship, but we have done it again and I have nothing but praise for the lads.
"To be sat on 40 points from 23 games, after the start we had, is a terrific return. We have absolutely no right to be where we are, but to be there on 40 points and in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, having disposed of three top Premier League sides, the players should be as high as a kite.
"The lads are on their Christmas party tonight (Saturday) and I'm sure they will enjoy it before they come back in early next week with hard work ahead of them. I have told each and every one of them if they are not prepared to do that hard work then they know the way I work.
Onto the game and Coyle admitted: "There was an anxious twenty minutes at the start of the second half, but after that I thought it was very comfortable. Brian Jensen never had a save to make in the game and at 3-2 we were the ones making the chances. In fact, their goalkeeper made some unbelievable saves in the game.
"Some of the football we played was breathtaking and I don't want that lost on what happened in the game. Yes, we had a lacklustre twenty minutes at the start of the second half, self inflicted I might add because I do think we felt it was too easy for them.
"I said that at half time that wouldn't be the case and that we would have to get about them and do the dirty work. But we didn't do that well enough and at 3-1 there is perhaps a tendency to protect what you have got.
"That's not what I was looking for. I was looking for us to push on and we are best when we are up in their faces. To be honest at 3-2 it should have been 4-2 or 5-2 with the good chances we had.
"Good decision making or the right pass in the last third would have led to even more. But all that happened is we had an anxious twenty minutes and I certainly felt that over the course of the ninety minutes 3-2 flattered them because we were well worthy of winning that game by a more handsome margin".