BURNLEY defender Clarke Carlisle has launched a stinging attack on his own fans after trouble flared at the derby match.

Carlisle slammed the ‘small percentage’ of Clarets yobs who behaved ‘barbarically’ during the game.

He said he was shocked by fans spitting, swearing and hurling seats and said he was upset to see his young son reduced to tears in the intimidating atmosphere.

The game saw Rovers triumph 1-0 thanks to a disputed penalty decision.

But the day was marred by the arrest of more than 50 fans, the destruction of toilet facilities in the away end and 150 seats being ripped up.

Last night Carlisle told the Lancashire Telegraph he was standing by the comments he made on his blog site, which also features a photograph of police subduing Burnley fans when they ran ran at Rover’s supporters at the end of the match.

He said: “I am disappointed that what happened was in front of children and families.

"My feelings are that no matter how disappointed and frustrated you are you, that can never justify the violent scenes that I saw.”

Carlisle, who watched the game from the stands, said supporters were spitting and swearing at their own players, and condemned the scenes in the David Fishwick stand after the game.

“I don’t want my children to see it,” he said, “and I’m sure other fans don’t want their children to see it.

“My son was frightened by what he saw, and other children and families around us were.

“I’m not saying all our fans are a disgrace, it is only a small minority, but what I saw really disappointed me and there is no place for it in football.”

Carlisle, 30, who signed for the Clarets in 2007, said the result was poor and admitted recent performances had not been good enough, but said that was no excuse for such behaviour.

In his blog he slammed some fans as “neanderthal monsters” and said it was “barbaric behaviour”.

In it he said: “The first local derby league fixture in years, what an occasion I was wanting my son to experience, yet he ends up in tears, frightened by the near idiot in front of him.”

Peter Pike, chairman of the Clarets Trust, backed Carlisle for speaking out against at the “mindless minority”.

“It is obviously disappointing that he has had to make these comments,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that a minority of fans behaved in a totally unacceptable way that has to be condemned by everybody in the football world.

“This is not good for Burnley Football Club at this time and is damaging to our name.

“The behaviour of some people yesterday was quite deplorable and has to be condemned in the strongest way possible.

“I want a good name for this football club and for people to be able to take their children to games without seeing unacceptable behaviour.

“These mindless minority are tarnishing the name of good supporters.”

Carlisle completes a weekly blog on the realbuzz.com website, alongside other well-known faces in the football world including Lee Dixon and Gabby Logan.

Carlisle, 30, signed for the Clarets after previous spells at Blackpool, QPR, Leeds United and Watford.

He has made 96 appearances for the club, scoring six goals, and was named man of the match when the club won promotion to the Premier League at Wembley in May.

He has played 28 games for the club this season, but hasn’t featured since the 2-1 home defeat to Wolves on March 13 because of injury.

Carlisle shot to national fame last month when he appeared on the Channel 4 words and numbers quiz show Countdown, beating two opponents before losing his third contest.

Burnley FC refused to comment.