FURIOUS Burnley fans have appealed for strong action to be taken against Stockport County striker Andy Mutch.

Several angry fans telephoned the Lancashire Evening Telegraph today to complain about alleged abusive remarks made by Mutch to a section of Burnley fans at Edgeley Park on Saturday.

The incident began in the second half as Mutch was warming up to come on as a second half substitute for Alun Armstrong in front of hundreds of Burnley supporters in the main stand.

And one angry fan even alleged Mutch - who scored Stockport's 86th minute winner - offered to fight a Burnley supporter after the game following a heated exchange of words.

Boundary Clarets spokesman Paul Smith: "What happened was way out of order and if it had happened in the Premiership it would have been in all the national newspapers and on television.

"A lot of fans claim they heard him (Mutch) using abusive language to Burnley fans while he was on the touchline warming up.

"When he scored he raced over to our part of the ground and tried to upset everybody again.

"It was out of order, especially as there were a lot of kids and disabled fans in that section of the ground who would have heard every word.

"There is enough rivalry between the two clubs without this sort of thing happening. "It was certainly not the sort of behaviour you would expect from a professional footballer of Mutch's experience.

"We will be writing to Stockport County to express our concerns over this incident."

Mutch - who was due to play in tonight's important promotion clash against Watford - was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Gary Parkinson hit out at referee Ian Cruikshank after he refused to hand Burnley a second half penalty.

The Hartlepool official ignored Parkinson's claims after the Clarets defender was hauled down inside the penalty box by Kevin Cooper.

Parkinson, who was named in the Professional Footballers' Association Second Division team along with David Eyres, said: "It was a definite penalty.

"I got caught from behind and I don't think their lads could believe it when the referee didn't give it.

"I would have stayed on my feet if he hadn't have tripped me. I was in a good position and in with a real chance of scoring a goal. "I saw him (Cooper) in the tunnel afterwards and told him he was a very lucky man.

"He agreed and admitted that he had tripped me from behind."

Parkinson added: "That decision cost us dear because we definitely deserved a point out of the game. Now we have got to go out and win our last four games.

"We just have to keep going and nobody is going to throw the towel in."

Meanwhile, manager Adrian Heath was delighted with the award to the two Burnley stars at last night's PFA ceremony at London's Grosvenor Hotel.

"It is a great honour for the club and a smashing reward for both players who've done really well this season.

"What makes it more special is the fact that their fellow professionals voted for them. They are both very proud and rightly so."

The Second Division team also included former Clarets captain Steve Davis, now with promotion rivals Luton Town.

Another ex-Claret, Fulham striker Mike Conroy, was named in the Third Division side.

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