JOEY Barton praised Burnley for making Turf Moor a fortress this season - before stressing that Saturday’s altercation between QPR players and fans ‘doesn’t help anyone’.

QPR were beaten 2-1 at Turf Moor as they fell to their 10th loss in 10 away games in the league this season, a new Premier League record.

Barton felt they had handed out some late Christmas presents to Burnley but did admit that the Clarets have been strong on home soil this season.

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“It’s difficult to come here at the best of times, they make it very tough, everyone who has been this year has found it a tough place to come,” said the QPR midfielder.

“Fair play to Burnley, we knew exactly what they were going to do. The front men are a handful and their middle four squeeze in and we get caught not defending properly.

“We got ourselves back into the game, Charlie (Austin) equalised and we’re the side on top.

“Burnley had a little bit of a nervy patch and then we give them another goal.

“The festive season is over but not the way we’re defending at the minute.”

Barton was hit by a bottle thrown from the Burnley section on his previous visit to Turf Moor but this time he was having to mediate in an argument between QPR players and their own supporters at full time.

“There were a few fans who were voicing their frustrations at the end, which obviously doesn’t help anyone,” he said.

“But it’s understood, it’s a testing time for us and you need character.

“I’ve never been in a situation like this before where we’ve been so good at home and so poor away.

“It’s baffling.”