Jon Dahl Tomasson has insisted Blackburn Rovers must show a reaction after their Boxing Day defeat to Huddersfield Town.

Rovers were second best across the pitch, losing 3-0 in what the head coach described as their 'worst performance of the season'. 

They have now lost five of their last six Championship games and face Hull City, who also have ambitions of making the top-six this season.

Reflecting on Boxing Day, Tomasson insisted his team must now rally and show their true colours against a fellow play-off contender.

READ MORE: Rovers team news for Hull City

"It's a good opportunity after our worst performance of the season," Tomasson told The Lancashire Telegraph.

"I thought it was because we weren't a Rovers team. The way we played, the way we do things, playing with one and two touches, playing forward instead of forward or backward. 

"We didn't make unselfish runs, that's why it's a great opportunity now to get back on track. When you fall, you have to step up. We know if we apply our way of playing, we can hurt a lot of teams and play some great football.

"We've heard from a lot of people, managers, opponents, journalists, during this season. We have to do that.

"Steve Waggott said first and foremost we have to stay in the league. Otherwise, we can get into trouble. I still believe following our game plan we can get some great results.

"We were all disappointed, nobody likes to lose games. We hate losing. I have been used to winning my whole life and the players will do anything to win a game for Rovers.

"We had talks about it and now it's time to see a reaction."

He added: "The way we have done things, we played good football. Games are won and lost in each box. You can play very good football inbetween but you have to take your chances, you have to defend well.

"We are a young and inexperienced side. When I say that, I mean two things. Age and also players that have played a lot of league games at Championship or even Premier League level. That is experience in my head.

"We need to develop those things and get back on track. Everyone knows that you'd rotate more and make more subs during the games.

"This period is where we have to keep everyone fresh. We have players who aren't used to it, they don't have that experience in league football. They're all very good lads."

Captain Lewis Travis is one of several players pushing to be recalled against Hull after dropping to the bench. The captain has been in and out of the team this season, often filling in across the pitch.

He hasn't started a Championship match in his preferred midfield role since the start of October against Leicester City. That has predominately been down to the impressive form of Sondre Tronstad.

Jake Garrett is another who has impressed off the bench whilst James Hill can feel slightly unlucky to have not started the last two games. 

Tomasson insisted that with so many injuries, Rovers need competition for places, which naturally is tougher when the squad is thin.

"When you get chances, it's about taking that because then you'll get even more chances," he explained "That's the great thing about football.

"We have been stretched a lot and then suddenly the competition is also gone. We need healthy competition within the group, we have a few more players to try and rotate now.

"We know every player wants to play a lot and every time. Trav has played a lot in my time, he's one of the three who has played the most in my time.

"Even if you're not playing, or not starting, you have an important role to play to help each other. The team at Rovers is always number one. 

"If you look at Trav, he's come from the bench, he has been playing in different positions and he's always tried to help where we've been stretched in some positions."

Hull City will represent the opponents on Friday, with Rovers looking to end 2023 on a high. The team has only won once in the last 10 years in their final game of the calendar year, a 2-1 win over Barnsley in 2021.

Tomasson admits he admires the way Liam Rosenior has the Tigers play after heavy investment in the summer.

"We know they're a very good team, they play excellent football. They invested quite a lot in the summer.

"I like the way they play. They want to use the ball and they have got some great results. They can be very dangerous with quick combinations and runs in-behind. 

"We saw when we played them here, we had 10 men for a long time and I thought we did very well, conceding late on. It's a good team we are playing.

"They want to play with few touches, they keep the ball quite central. They play bounce balls and through the lines. I like the way they play."