TONY Mowbray admits Burnley’s Premier League quality showed as they edged the East Lancashire derby at Ewood Park.

Goals from Jack Cork and Robbie Brady saw the Clarets through to round three of the Carabao Cup after a 2-0 win.

Rovers tried to work their way back in to the game after the break, but struggled to create too many clear-cut opportunities.

“I think you could feel the Premier League quality of the opposition, their power, tightness with the ball,” Mowbray said.

“That’s the level in the future of this club that we have to get to.

“It’s hard to take for Rovers fans to see Burnley that far in front of us but I thought we worked hard.

“Second half there were a few things that flashed across their box, an offside goal, and if we had scored with 15 or 20 to go then it might have been a more exciting end to the end.

“In the history of both clubs we are where we are and we need to accept that and the challenge and task of this club is to build it back up to be able to compete at a level where we can go and win these games and be the dominant force but at the moment that’s not the case.”

Brady doubled Burnley’s advantage in the third of six minutes of additional time at the end of the first half.

Mowbray admitted that was a bitter blow to Rovers’ chances, and his attentions will now turn to Saturday’s League One game with MK Dons.

“That second goal was a bit of a body blow to everyone – it was hard to lift them after half-time.

“We played a lot of the first 20 minutes in their half, we got some corners, wide free-kicks and corners and were pushing them back a little bit.

“Their quality then came to the fore, they managed to puncture through our team and ask some questions of us and probably with their first ball in to our box they scored and that’s what quality footballers can do.

“We have to take it on the chin.

“We have to focus now on another important game on Saturday, we have to focus on the hard work and competitive edge aspect to where our fans believe that this team can win football matches and be successful this year.

“That’s what we will focus on and pick teams that can do that.

“I thought young (Harry) Chapman at times showed little flashes of how fast and direct he can be.

“We need to pick teams that will be able to compete physically with the other teams in this league and hopefully have a squad that can change games as it goes on.”