Rovers head into their FA Cup Quarter Final with Millwall deflated but with at least a sense of positivity after an improved performance away at Bolton Wanderers.
Rovers lost to what was essentially the last kick of the game with former Burnley player Chris Eagles bagging in injury time and then taunting the jeering Rovers fans in celebration.
‘To lose the goal in the manner that we did and as late as we did was disappointing,’ said the manager on the official website.
However, with Rovers making four changes to the starting line up the display was a sizeable improvement on the drab display against Peterborough at the weekend.
‘But, and it is a big but for once, I was absolutely delighted with the players tonight.’ Appleton continued.
‘I thought their commitment, effort and desire to go about their business was fantastic.
‘To be honest with you it is pretty much everything that I’m about as a person, let alone a manager. When I go into something I go into it wholeheartedly and my players did exactly the same tonight.
‘I’ll be surprised if there were any Blackburn fans who turned up tonight who would disagree with me.
Danny Murphy, Bradley Orr, Karim Rekik and David Bentley were all dropped in favour of David Jones, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Adam Henley and Cameron Stewart and the result was an increase in desire and effort that matched the in form Wanderers.
Appleton clarified – ‘Going into the latter stages I thought we were the ones who were going to nick it. We had three or four decent opportunities.
‘But it wasn’t to be, they are on a rich vein of form at the minute and sometimes you have those purple patches that they are going through.
‘I was delighted with the effort and commitment, and we showed a bit of quality at times and hopefully we’ll show that in the game on Sunday.’
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