Burnley manager Scott Parker defended his decision to make wholesale changes for the Carabao Cup tie against Cardiff after watching his Premier League side crash out at the third-round stage following a 2-1 home defeat. Although the Dutchman’s 56th-minute intervention provided Burnley with a lifeline, it was one they failed to grasp. There were some tactical things we were short on but lots of others – intensity, duels and being sloppy on the ball. A lot of my wife’s family are Arsenal fans so they’ll be hoping for them but, really, I don’t have a preference. “If you did push me I’d say a home tie because of the amount of travelling ourselves and the fans have to do.