Clarets manager Steve Cotterill has welcomed Burnley having a midweek break between Saturday games for only the second time this season.

He said: "It takes a little bit of mental pressure off everybody because when you end up with games on Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday, sometimes you don't know where the month goes.

"We've had too many games already and we do play too many games in this country.

"We have games to contend with, the weather to contend with and this year is even worse because of the season finishing early for the World Cup.

"We've had three two week breaks and many midweek games. Maybe the early rounds of the Carling Cup could have been played in those international breaks.

"There could be more thought put into the spreading out of games.

"The clubs in League One and Two will play the same number of league games, they come in the Carling Cup as early and they've got the LDV, it's too much for them.

"It just means you're not allowing your players to function properly because they don't get enough rest period.

"No one can be at their best all the times, they're human beings and not always on top form."