SAM Allardyce stressed the importance of Blackburn's Carling Cup victory at Nottingham Forest in utilising his squad.
The Rovers boss was particularly pleased to see midfielders Steven Reid and Brett Emerton continue their comeback from long-term injury.
Allardyce, who made 10 changes from Sunday's dismal Barclays Premier League defeat at Everton including handing a debut to 17-year-old defender Phil Jones, put Reid and Emerton in from the start.
The pair have been plagued by knee injuries, Reid for almost a year and Emerton for eight months.
Reid, whose only appearance prior to last night came in the last round at Gillingham, managed 75 minutes before being replaced by Keith Andrews while Emerton, who made his competitive return as a substitute in the league game against Wolves earlier this month, finished the third round tie.
Allardyce insists their return to the starting line-up was one of many positives to take from the City Ground.
He said: "Overall I'm delighted. We came through a tough game with no injury problems and gave a lot of players some really good football to catch up with match fitness.
"With a squad of our size it's important to give players some high quality competitive time on the pitch.
"On top of that, we had two exciting lads making their way in the team in Junior Hoilett and a young lad who made his debut at the back and looked like he'd played there for a number of years in Phil Jones.
"And we got two players back from long-term injuries playing a competitive game in Brett Emerton and Steven Reid."
Allardyce added: "Steven Reid is a way off (starting a Premier League game) yet. He's been out for so long, these things can't be rushed. Finding your matchday legs again takes quite a while after such a long time out.
"While he's been training with us on a regular basis for a long time now and playing matches behind closed doors, it's competitive games like this what you need in the end. He had 40 minutes or so at Gillingham and he had over 70 minutes here.
"Same with Brett, he hasn't been out as long and I think you could see that. But it's important those two get that competitive edge as soon as they can because they are very experienced Premier League players for us who will play a big part in this season for us."
Asked about an update on the investigation by Merseyside Police into the alleged incident involving El-Hadji Diouf and an Everton ball boy, the Rovers boss said: "We don't feel there's anything to answer to be honest.
"It's just the usual kerfuffle around Premier League football isn't it. We haven't heard from the police and I don't expect to hear anything either."
The ball boy has claimed Diouf made a racist comment to him during Blackburn's 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Last night's defeat was harsh on Forest as the Coca-Cola Championship club dominated for long spells and created the better chances throughout.
It was the Reds' fourth home defeat of the season in all competitions but boss Billy Davies remained upbeat about how his team are performing and their prospects, insisting they are merely on an incredible run of misfortune.
"I'm not putting a face on, I genuinely do feel very comfortable, confident and positive I've got to tell you," said the Scot.
"This is a results business I'm in but when you play badly and you don't create chances and you don't dominate games of football, you've got a problem. But we have been dominating teams and creating chances and outplaying teams for the last number of weeks home and away and that's why I'm not worried.
"We've got top strikers here and they are great finishers but my God we have had some bad luck. It has been a consistent run of bad luck since the start of the season and that's why I've said to the players that they have no need to be down.
"I look at the videos and the way we are playing, apart from the results because of the chances we are missing, this club is in a very good situation.
"In the previous three clubs I've been at we have never started this well and created as many chances. Historically my starts are not great and this start is not great again, but I must say I am very pleased."
ends
Allardyce, who made 10 changes from Sunday's dismal Barclays Premier League defeat at Everton including handing a debut to 17-year-old defender Phil Jones, put Reid and Emerton in from the start.
The pair have been plagued by knee injuries, Reid for almost a year and Emerton for eight months.
Reid, whose only appearance prior to last night came in the last round at Gillingham, managed 75 minutes before being replaced by Keith Andrews while Emerton, who made his competitive return as a substitute in the league game against Wolves earlier this month, finished the third round tie.
Allardyce insists their return to the starting line-up was one of many positives to take from the City Ground.
He said: "Overall I'm delighted. We came through a tough game with no injury problems and gave a lot of players some really good football to catch up with match fitness.
"With a squad of our size it's important to give players some high quality competitive time on the pitch.
"On top of that, we had two exciting lads making their way in the team in Junior Hoilett and a young lad who made his debut at the back and looked like he'd played there for a number of years in Phil Jones.
"And we got two players back from long-term injuries playing a competitive game in Brett Emerton and Steven Reid."
Allardyce added: "Steven Reid is a way off (starting a Premier League game) yet. He's been out for so long, these things can't be rushed. Finding your matchday legs again takes quite a while after such a long time out.
"While he's been training with us on a regular basis for a long time now and playing matches behind closed doors, it's competitive games like this what you need in the end. He had 40 minutes or so at Gillingham and he had over 70 minutes here.
"Same with Brett, he hasn't been out as long and I think you could see that. But it's important those two get that competitive edge as soon as they can because they are very experienced Premier League players for us who will play a big part in this season for us."
Asked about an update on the investigation by Merseyside Police into the alleged incident involving El-Hadji Diouf and an Everton ball boy, the Rovers boss said: "We don't feel there's anything to answer to be honest.
"It's just the usual kerfuffle around Premier League football isn't it. We haven't heard from the police and I don't expect to hear anything either."
The ball boy has claimed Diouf made a racist comment to him during Blackburn's 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Last night's defeat was harsh on Forest as the Coca-Cola Championship club dominated for long spells and created the better chances throughout.
It was the Reds' fourth home defeat of the season in all competitions but boss Billy Davies remained upbeat about how his team are performing and their prospects, insisting they are merely on an incredible run of misfortune.
"I'm not putting a face on, I genuinely do feel very comfortable, confident and positive I've got to tell you," said the Scot.
"This is a results business I'm in but when you play badly and you don't create chances and you don't dominate games of football, you've got a problem. But we have been dominating teams and creating chances and outplaying teams for the last number of weeks home and away and that's why I'm not worried.
"We've got top strikers here and they are great finishers but my God we have had some bad luck. It has been a consistent run of bad luck since the start of the season and that's why I've said to the players that they have no need to be down.
"I look at the videos and the way we are playing, apart from the results because of the chances we are missing, this club is in a very good situation.
"In the previous three clubs I've been at we have never started this well and created as many chances. Historically my starts are not great and this start is not great again, but I must say I am very pleased."
ends
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