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"I feel I had to make the five changes because we have just played five games in thirteen days over Christmas and some of the players needed a rest. Nathan Ellington has a tight hamstring which is why he wasn't involved while Leighton Baines and Jimmy Bullard have played almost every game so far this season and therefore needed a break.
"Although we made the changes I still expected more from us and that's why it's disappointing to lose in the way that we did. After taking the lead we should have done more to keep it but we didn't manage to and have ended up losing.
"As I said we're disappointed but the League is our priority and at least that can be given our full focus now. I don't like losing and today is no different in that respect but it's now back to the real business and that starts with our trip to Rotherham next weekend.
"I don't see making the changes as a gamble, I am thinking long term about the League and all the games we have had. It's not nice to lose, but it's not as important to us as the League, there is no comparison between the two.
"I know we haven't been in the Fourth Round for a long time, but we haven't been second in the Championship for a long time either."