Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton savaged the standard of Crystal Palace's U21s after a Papa John's Trophy game.

The competition allows many bigger clubs in England to field their younger players in matches against lower league opposition.

Barton, whose side won 2-0 against Palace's Under-21s on Tuesday, went on a rant about his opponent's quality.

“I thought they (Crystal Palace) were what the problem is in the modern game, an academy side that are miles away from producing people who can play in the league," he said, per Daily Mail.

“They're so far away, let's be honest, so it kind of makes a mockery for me of what that Premier League 2 is.

“You hear me talk all the time about these big clubs stockpiling players… We wouldn't take any of their players, we just wouldn't, they're so far away. It's a good opportunity for us to look at that because we do like to utilise the loan market but I was so surprised to see them.

“It's easy for them because their games don't matter. Their games are irrelevant and nobody cares about them, but we've got a proper game on Saturday when mortgages are on the line, real football, real men's football.

“So to have a team of kids go out and leave late challenges on you is bizarre. The competition is about developing younger players."