Norwich caretaker boss Jim Duffy pointed an accusing finger at referee Mike Jones after defeat to Burnley.

Norwich caretaker manager Jim Duffy pointed an accusing finger at referee Mike Jones after his side slid deeper into the Championship relegation mire. Steve Cotterill's Burnley raced into a two-goal lead which condemned the struggling Canaries to a 2-1 defeat. The visitors' pitiful resistance lasted just 51 seconds as an exhilarating Burnley counter-attack culminated in Robbie Blake heading home. Three minutes later, the Clarets doubled their advantage courtesy of Andy Gray, who dispatched his ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot after Jon Otsemobor looked to have fouled Blake. The penalty decision angered Duffy, who said: "I didn't think it was a penalty. "The referee gave a decision that baffles you as a manger and surprised even the Burnley players - and there was an incident when he should have given us a penalty for a challenge on Darren Huckerby. "For 15 minutes after that we were really flat, but we ground ourselves back into it.

Incident

"We came back strongly in the second half but unfortunately it wasn't quite enough. "I spoke to the referee afterwards and he said for the first incident that the player took his ankle away and for the second the Burnley player played the ball. "I think you will find that if you watch the video then both of those decisions were highly contentious." Norwich hit back through Chris Brown in the 68th minute but could not find an equaliser and this latest defeat means they have taken just one point from their last seven games. Such relegation form looks certain to have put paid to any lingering hopes Duffy had of landing the job permanently. Perhaps Norwich's board of directors should ask Steve Cotterill about how to put a side together. Burnley are commanding respect under their young manager's astute guidance and were good value for a victory which enhances their promotion credentials. However, Cotterill was disappointed that his side failed to build on their early dominance. He said: "After a great start and plenty of ball in the first half we didn't build on that in the second half. "We went 2-0 up and if we'd got a third then we would have had no problem, but we held on and the lads deserve credit." Burnley goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly produced a brilliant close-range block to preserve his side's advantage and Cotterill added: "It was a great save from Gabs and that's what he's in the side for."