John Eustace conceded Blackburn Rovers' players need a rest ahead of a welcome break in the Championship calendar.

Rovers have ended a five-game run of fixtures crammed into two weeks over the festive period. That saw them come away with only two points, though performances arguably deserved more.

With injuries and illness taking a grip of the squad, the head coach admitted rotation has not always been possible. Fortunately, The FA Cup third round offers the chances for those on the fringes to get an opportunity.

Eustace is unlikely to make 11 changes but the likes of Balasz Toth, John Buckley, Kyle McFadzean and Harry Leonard, amongst others, can expect to start at The Riverside Stadium.

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"We haven't been able to rotate as many players as other teams," he admitted.

"The bigger squads, the top teams at this level, can rotate players around. The most important thing is whoever plays for us, we have gone again against a very good team.

"Two days ago, we came from 1-0 down against Leeds and showed that fighting spirit. Today, the effort from the group was outstanding again.

"It was only a few days ago that the same group went toe to toe with Leeds and got a deserved equaliser. To go again without changing players was pleasing. We kept huffing and puffing but lacked the quality.

"It will be good to give the lads a few days off. They deserve that after this period. We can give the lads a break, get players back and in the recruitment side, get good players to come in.

"It has been a disappointing result today but we will reflect and refocus next week. We have a few that will hopefully be back sooner rather than later."

Despite admitting his team lacked quality in the final third, the Rovers boss was pleased with what his produced against Burnley. It was a performance where application was not at fault but the end product from both sides was poor.

Take away the rivalry and Rovers were facing a third team in four that are gunning for the top two. They only created one real moment of quality but that was what proved decisive.

"They didn't create many chances against us either. They're a very good team with one of the best squads in the league," Eustace assessed.

"That is what happens when you play that sort of money for players. The way the boys kept going and fighting was very pleasing for me. We were not a million miles off.

"I thought we started very well and we are playing a very good team. It was always going to be difficult to keep that fast start going. We weathered a 10-minute period where they had dominated the ball without causing us problems.

"Then we finished the first half pretty well. The second half, started ok and that was their first effort on goal which goes in. It was disappointing because it's a lack of concentration in the second phase of the attack. That was disappointing."