CLARETS defender Dean West left Valley Parade with a fat lip on Saturday and said: "I did not do this to myself."

He was responding to the claims of Bradford City striker Danny Cadamarteri that he did not touch him in the incident that led to his dismissal.

"He definitely caught me, I don't know if it was deliberate but he definitely did," added West who was backed up in his claims by keeper Marlon Beresford.

"I heard the contact from where I was," he said.

Despite the claims from the Burnley players, Cadamarteri is going to appeal against his sending off.

The former Everton star was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean from the Wirral, one of the select group of officials, who saw his elbow make contact with Dean West's face early in the second half.

Cadamarteri insisted: "I never touched him and I am going to appeal."

Television evidence suggests that Mr Dean got it 100 per cent right although Bantams boss Nicky Law was furious that an elbow by Dimitri Papadopoulos before half time had only been punished with a yellow card.

Referees assessor George Courtney had the official in for a discussion after the game but Burnley boss Stan Ternent admitted: "I wasn't right sure about the incident but I have no comment to make as I only talk about my own team."

And having seen his side in complete control and with a 2-1 lead against the nine men of Bradford he had plenty to comment about.

Having conceded a sloppy opener to Andy Gray, Burnley found themselves up against nine men as Cadamarteri's red card followed one for Mark Bower.

Robbie Blake and Gareth Taylor gave Burnley the lead but they opted not to go for the jugular and were caught out when a Steve Davis mistake gifted the home side a late leveller.

"Half a loaf is better than none," said Ternent after the game but with the air of a man who had lost a tenner and found a penny.

"We made a blunder and we were punished for it.

"But if we look on the bright side that is now six games without a loss.

"We have really good games with Bradford and when we came here we would have been happy with 2-2.

"That said, although we never lost it does feel like we have lost two points.

"What is meant to be is meant to be, we can't change it."

More than 2000 Burnley fans travelled to Bradford and some of them vented their frustration towards the players and the manager as they left the field.

Ternent now has a week to work with his players before the visit of Wimbledon on Saturday as he hopes to preserve the club's unbeaten record in September.

But he remains in no doubt that Saturday was a wasted opportunity for his men to pick up their third League win of the season.