Burnley manager Owen Coyle refused to use the midweek Carling Cup semi-final first leg loss to Tottenham as an excuse for Clarets' 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea.
But Coyle is refusing to let his charges hide behind their disappointment against Spurs.
Coyle said: "It is a time for characters and mental strength."
He added: "We have played a lot of games, but it is too easy to look for excuses and some of the players must look at themselves in terms of their performance."
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