BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer said his decision to leave top-scorers Rudy Gestede and Jordan Rhodes on the bench for last night’s 2-0 defeat at Derby County was tactical.

For the second game running the 13-goal Gestede and the nine-goal Rhodes were named among the substitutes after being rested for the 3-1 FA Cup home win over Swansea City.

That meant Josh King, who has just one goal to his name this season, was once more deployed as a lone striker.

King caused the Swans problems on Saturday with his pace leading to Kyle Bartley’s seventh-minute sending off.

After the centre-back’s dismissal the Premier League outfit were restricted to a handful of efforts on target.

And when asked why he did not start with Gestede and Rhodes, Bowyer, whose side frustrated Derby until the introduction of the two-goal Darren Bent, said: “I think you saw how well it worked against Swansea.

“Derby are a very similar team and have a very similar style of play.

“And like I say, it was well on course for working.

“Injuries disrupted us a little bit but you can’t defend like that.”

Gestede was brought on in the 43rd minute for Tom Cairney after the midfielder hurt his groin.

But the Benin international lasted just 21 minutes before he too came off injured.

Gestede was replaced by Chris Brown, and not Rhodes, who did eventually arrive 13 minutes from the end of normal time after Grant Hanley became the third Rovers player to come off with a knock.