The answer I got was that his view was obscured

Barnsley had been on the wrong end of a refereeing shocker from Flood Warden Andy Hall at Preston on the Saturday that cost them a goal but here they got the benefit when both referee Nigel Miller and his assistant got the decision horribly wrong in awarding the home side their second goal.

Barnsley manager Simon Davey said: "There was a dubious goal in the second half but we had one given against us at Preston last Saturday. We had the rub of the green tonight and I was pleased for the players and it was a good three points.

"We had a five or ten minute spell when we looked tired and felt sorry for ourselves a little but we managed to get the win we needed. We were comfortable at 3-0 but the win was a relief at the end."

Clarets boss Owen Coyle had been remonstrating with the fourth official Dave Foster and the assistant who couldn't see for much of the second half and he was in no mood to let up after the game had finished.

"That group of players don't know defeat and I have to say it is one of the worst feelings I've had in football to sit here with no points after that game, given everything that we offered," Coyle said.

"We spoke at half time and felt that if we raised our level 10 or 15 percent we could win the game, not draw it. We started well and the second goal was the big turning point, there's no getting away from it.

"I knew during the game and I've seen on TV that they have three players at least two yards in advance of our back line. Then it hits the lad's arm as he puts it in. They can't tell me he wasn't interfering because he scored and he's at least two yards offside.

"It's just a bad, bad decision. At the time I asked the fourth official to ask the linesman who was playing him onside and the answer I got was that his view was obscured. Well it was obviously obscured by three Barnsley players because there was no Burnley player in sight of that line.

"It can't go on week after week and I certainly seem to keep thinking that myself and my team are the victims every week."

Coyle admitted to being very proud of his players, particularly in the latter stages of the game. He added: "In the last half hour we were magnificent. Some of the level of play and passing was great and Martin and Kevin came on to give everyone a lift.

"It was waves of attack and in terms of that last half hour I couldn't be more proud."