Jon Dahl Tomasson said Rovers’ plans were dealt a blow on the eve of the game by losing Sam Szmodics to injury – but conceded his side were second best in their 3-0 defeat at Turf Moor.

Ashley Barnes netted twice and had a hand in Anass Zaroury’s goal as the Clarets scored three second half goals.

Tomasson handed Clinton Mola his first league start, while Jake Garrett came into the side in place of the injured Szmodics, as the Rovers head coach reverted to a back four.

Yet it was Rovers’ bravery on the ball that most disappointed Tomasson after a ninth defeat of the season heading into the World Cup break.

“It was a difficult afternoon, we didn’t perform that well, for sure not what we had planned,” he said.

“You could see that bravery and courage that we’ve had the last weeks, when the lads have done excellently, we didn’t have that, against a good side.

“I feel disappointed for our fans, we brought all those fans, and you can see we’re still inconsistent at this level which we’ve spoken about.

“This break will be good for the squad to get a bit of rest and then we work on the training pitch.

“The lads have done great in this period, getting results with a new side and early in our journey.

“It’s a disappointing afternoon.”

Szmodics missed out with a hamstring injury, with Garrett coming in to the side of place for only his second league start.

“Sammie we lost (on Saturday).

“Garrett did well against Sunderland, he did well coming on against West Ham and is someone who needs to develop as well.

“Regarding the speed of the opponent that was choice of Clinton. It was tactical.”

Asked if Szmodics was down to start, Tomasson said: “He would have been playing.”

Rovers go into the break without having taken any points from the nine games in which they have conceded first.

And they never looked like breaking that trend after going behind to Barnes’ 55th minute strike, moments after losing Sam Gallagher to injury.

“It was of course a game without many chances at that time,” Tomasson said of his feelings at half time.

“Burnley had the ball, we were quite solid, defensively we were good but on the ball we weren’t.

“We didn’t make the right decisions and when you concede the first goal you know that it’s going to be tough.

“I think it’s quite normal that when a team scores a goal it gives you extra energy, the other team lacks that a bit.

“It’s a good side, we shouldn’t forget that.”

Tomasson revealed that it was both a muscle injury, and a cut, that forced Gallagher off in the early stages of the second half.

Burnley’s second two goals came from Rovers’ poor play out from the back, and reflecting on the goals conceded, Tomasson added: “The first goal was a cross, and plenty of bodies in the box, but you have to see that when you concede goals there are always mistakes, and when you concede it’s the opposition who make mistakes.”

Rovers head into the break on the back of the most disappointing result of the season, now without a game until the visit of Preston North End on December 10.

“We should always reflect on this journey, we have been brave, played with courage with the last few games,” Tomasson added.

“This wasn’t those days.

“In a big game, a big atmosphere, how do the young boys cope with that, we should be satisfied with how we’ve done before, but we always want better.”

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