"There had been a little reaction, and because of the size of the squad, we couldn't afford to have Stuart Holden missing for four or five weeks," said the manager.
"I need all my players mentally tuned and knowing they are at their best. There was a little nagging doubt in his mind that his thigh wouldn't last the pace of the match.
"I wasn't prepared to take that chance and then lose him for what is always a busy period of games."