OWEN Coyle has bemoaned refereeing inconsistencies after Steven Thompson became the fifth Burnley player to be sent off this season.

Three of those red cards have come in the last four games, with Steven Caldwell receiving his marching orders at Chelsea after Clarke Carlisle had suffered a similar fate at Wolves.

Stephen Jordan went off at Reading in October but only Chris Eagles’ red card – for violent conduct at home to Plymouth – was not for two bookings.

The Clarets like to be known as a passing side rather than an aggressive outfit and Coyle feels they have received the rough end of the stick when it comes to refereeing decisions.

The Burnley boss was upset that Premier League official Steve Bennett sent Thompson off during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers, while opposition defender Matt Mills escaped.

Mills and Thompson were both booked for their part in a scuffle before the Burnley striker received a second yellow for a tackle on the Doncaster man.

Coyle said: “I can see why he was sent off. I think Tommo was late getting over to the challenge.

“I don’t think he actually caught the lad, I’ve got to say that, but I can see why.

“But I have to say that the player that Steven Thompson has fouled shouldn’t have been on the park at the time, if we’re going to go by that.

“For me, he had the worst tackle in the game on Chris Eagles.

“He’s then caught in a melee with Tommo and gets a yellow card and he would have been on a second yellow by that time.

“But that’s not to get away from the fact that Steven shouldn’t have been rash by lunging into the challenge.”