We have to take that on the chin

“I think Burnley turned it into a battle,” he said after seeing his side extend their lead at the top of the table. “They were flying in from all over the place, but that's what we have got to expect and I thought the back four and goalkeeper Neil Alexander marshalled it really well leaving us to deal with crosses rather than shots.

“We probably could have put the game out of sight a lot sooner than we did [I don't recall them ever putting the game out of sight] but it was a well earned three points. We had to battle and scrap and that shows another side to us against a big strong physical side.

“They weren't going to allow us to have passage of play or free will, so when we did get it and we did have the passages then we've opened them up, and that's where the goal has come from. It is a good lay off and a good finish.

“Nobody is going to let us have our own way. Burnley kept battling, they are not where they are because they are a team of mugs.”

Steve Cotterill was more concerned, and rightly so, about the shocking performance from Premiership referee Peter Walton. “We tried to give it a go in the first half but I don't think the referee was up to the required standard. If you want to win at Cardiff you need to have a strong referee and I didn't see a lot wrong with what he picked up on in the first half,” he said.

“It was tough on our lads to walk out with nothing, at half time we said we are not going to get anything so we may as well try and get on with the game. You don't say that before a game because you don't think you will get that type of performance from a referee.

“Peter Walton booked Andy Gray because he said he was annoying him,” Cotterill fumed. “What's that about? How can you be booked for annoying someone? That's poor because it also takes the edge out of someone's game. It is a pity the referee can't be booked, because he would have been booked and sent off in the first half for annoying me.

“There were three pernickety fouls jus before the goal which could easily have gone the other way and I was asked by television after the game if I wanted to see anything on the replay, I said it would take too long for me to see all the replays I would like to see.”

Steve thought we were better than Cardiff on the day and added: “We will be frustrated because we were the better team and we didn't deserve to be beaten although we did have a couple of players that were off colour which didn't help. But we've come here to the top of the league and given them a right game.

“We didn't want the game to end and if we had got a goal then we could have gone on to win the game. It will read on Sunday morning that we've lost the game 1-0. We know all about the facts and what that will lead to. It doesn't tell a true tale but we have to take that on the chin and move on to next week.”