FURIOUS Chris Waddle fired a broadside at referee Andrew D'Urso following Burnley's Coca-Cola Cup exit at the hands of First Division Stoke City.

Waddle was left fuming after Stoke went ahead following a bizarre drop ball incident awarded by the official on the Clarets six-yard box eight minutes before half-time.

The Burnley player-manager said: "I was not happy with that decision by the referee.

"Some people spoil games and it was not the crowd or the players in this cup tie.

"The referee's decision to award a drop ball in that situation was a farce - simple as that.

"Decisions like that cost people games and it handed Stoke a crucial advantage.

"Okay. We went down to Stoke 4-0 down from the first leg, but to give a decision like that was just ridiculous.

"At the end of the day he made it, but it was the only decision he made all night. Good luck to him."

Burnley went down 6-0 on aggregate but Waddle handed full Burnley debuts to three players - Marco Gentile, Gerry Creaney and Gordon Cowans. "I thought we played very well and probably deserved something from the game with all the chances we created," added Waddle.

"The shape of the side and the way we passed it was very encouraging.

"Gerry Creaney got in great positions and we were very unfortunate not to find the back of the net.

"We've got a massive injury situation and I did not hesitate putting Gordon Cowans in.

"He is a quality player and has proved that in his career. In fact, he was probably one of the better players on the field."

Striker Paul Barnes missed the tie with a hamstring strain, while Andy Cooke was substituted in the second half, with the same injury.

Waddle added: "They are both struggling but we hope to have them available for Brentford.

"Neither of them are too serious so we are keeping our fingers crossed for the weekend.

"We are having an amazing run of injuries. I've never known anything like it.

"I think it must be a jinx. But we will keep going and I think the last couple of games have been encouraging."

Burnley Reserves play their first Pontin's League home fixture of the season against Wrexham at Turf Moor tonight (7.15pm).

In future, Burnley will only open part of the Bob Lord Stand for reserve team fixtures.

The club say it is not economically viable to open the whole stand because of the high cost of providing the number of stewards to comply with the safety certificate.

Fans will be asked to sit in the central areas of the stand, with the rest of the stand closed.

Officials stress that there will still be adequate seats for supporters on match nights.

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