Peter Crouch scored a hat-trick as Tottenham easily booked their place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
An unmarked Crouch volleyed Tottenham in front before Jermain Defoe extended their lead with a header after Andy Lonergan saved his initial shot.
Crouch slotted the ball into an empty before Chris Brown tapped home from eight yards to give Preston hope.
But Robbie Keane struck Tottenham's fourth before Crouch completed the scoring with an audacious backheel.
It was Tottenham's greater quality in attack that was the difference between the two sides, with Harry Redknapp's team showing a clinical edge that was beyond their opponents.
Preston, who lost at home for the first time since April, certainly had opportunities to score but were all too often thwarted by in-form Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes
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