DEJECTED Clarets defender Graham Branch admitted: "This is the biggest disappointment of my career because it was the biggest game of my career.

"No disrespect to Watford but we know we should have beaten them."

And the left back confessed that the sheer size of the occasion may have got to the players and cost them the chance to get into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

"I know I was very tense before the game," he said. "I have not felt nerves like that for a long time. There was a lot of nervous tension and we know that we all didn't play to our full capabilities. I am so disappointed for the lads, for the gaffer and for the fans.

"It was quite a scrappy game but there was so much at stake. It was such a massive game, we are so disappointed. I honestly thought we would get a draw, bring them back and beat them."

Despite the immense feeling of having missed a great opportunity he said: "Now we have got to get on with the rest of the season and try and keep the play-off hopes alive.

"We have to focus on Wednesday's game against Sheffield United, this game has gone now. If we keep our heads down we are going to get beat.

"There is still a lot to be positive about. It has been a brilliant season when you think about the size of the squad we have got. There is a brilliant bunch of lads here and we have had two great runs that no one could have predicted at the start of the season."

And Branch was keen to once again praise the travelling support as he said: "Our fans were absolutely brilliant, they were all the way through."

The Burnley players trooped back on to the bus for the long journey north and the sense of dejection was palpable.

But, as Branch said, they have no time to lick their wounds and feel miserable. There are two more away games this week to end a run of five on the bounce and if the gap on the top six is to be closed, they have to start winning them now.

Defeat at Watford is history, the rest of the season starts today.