BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche was left baffled by the performance of referee Dean Whitestone as three penalty appeals were turned down during Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Middlesbrough.

Dean Marney was felled in the box as he squared the ball for Danny Ings in the first half, before Ings was wrestled to the ground by Nathaniel Chalobah from a set piece after the interval.

There was another claim in the closing stages as Ashley Barnes then went down.

“There were certainly two blatant penalties, it was incredible,” Dyche said.

“We’ve had seven not given this season, now it’s nine. How do you fathom it?

“The biggest disappointment is the referee had actually spoken to their players about pulling shirts.

“One minute later we get a corner and Danny Ings is pulled to the floor, blatantly – I’ve seen it again – and no decision.

“It’s scratch your head time. It’s impossible that’s not a penalty.

“The one on Marns I can’t see how that’s not a penalty. Then at the end Barnesy’s at the back stick, their lad’s the wrong side of play and bumps him in the back.

“We saw one given against Doncaster in the week and it’s worse than that and it’s not given.”

Dyche had words with the referee after studying video evidence after the game, still unclear on why his side had not been awarded a single spot kick.

“I had a chat,” he said. “The hardest thing for managers is it always amazes me when they say ‘in your opinion’.

“I did remind him that I’d just looked at the incidents again 47 times on the laptop so I don’t see how it’s an opinion when it’s a fact.

“I always say they’ve got a tough job. You expect it to be done in the appropriate manner, I don’t think it was. But I respect referees and I respect linesmen.”