Blackburn 1 Leeds United 2: Lambert blames '˜gruelling' run for defeat to Leeds

And, after a ninth game since the start of February due to the club’s highly successful FA Cup campaign, manager Paul Lambert sympathised with his side’s ‘gruelling’ exertions.

He said: “I don’t think we deserved to lose.

“I thought we were well on top until they scored.

“We started the game really well and losing the goal through a set-play was disappointing.

“The second goal was probably even more so disappointing, but I’ve said to them, you’ve played so many games in a short space of time and I don’t know if any other team has had the schedule we’ve been on – and it’s gruelling.

“It’s the same lads going out week in, week out, and I knew one game was going to come back and bite because of the amount of games we’ve played.

“I couldn’t fault the effort and the commitment, the way they played.

“It was just a game too far for us with the games we’ve had.”

Blackburn travel to Ipswich Town on Tuesday night aiming to get back on track against a side sitting four points outside the final play-off place in ninth on the Championship ladder.

The Tractor Boys’ play-off push slipped off track on Saturday with a 1-0 reverse to Cardiff City.