Tripe covers a small pan (5)
I believe the answer is:
roast
'pan' is the definition.
(both can mean to criticise)
'tripe covers a small' is the wordplay.
'tripe' becomes 'rot' (I've seen this in another clue).
'covers' indicates putting letters inside.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'a'+'s'='as'
'rot' enclosing 'as' is 'ROAST'.
(Other definitions for roast that I've seen before include "The Sunday -----, with all the trimmings!" , "Grill" , "Berate - cook" , "Sunday tradition" , "open-air party in US" .)