Blackpool manager Ian Holloway hopes an outing in the Carling Cup will provide him and his squad with a chance to take stock after an interesting start to their Barclays Premier League season.
After routing Wigan 4-0 on the opening day of the season the Seasiders were brought crashing back down to earth as they were drubbed 6-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
There may not be much time to work on putting things right ahead of the trip to League One MK Dons but a cup tie may just provide Holloway and his players with some time to reflect.
"We were a bit disjointed against Arsenal but that is because of how good they were," said the Blackpool boss.
"No matter what happens, I have to try to pick these boys up and give them as much help as I can tactically.
"I could not do anything about it on the day but hopefully I can work on that on the training ground after watching the DVD and working with the analyst to get some bits for the lads to try to help them.
"Maybe we will have a lot of tough Monday mornings after the Saturday, but we did not launch into horrible tackles, we tried to get it and pass it ourselves - although we need to sharpen up.
"I have got plenty of work because we have got another game on Tuesday.
"We have to concentrate on whatever we can do and keep trying to do it as best we can - and we are never going to stop."
Holloway, who admits defence is the key area to concentrate on, is keen to continue strengthening his squad right up until the transfer deadline.
But he is happy with the squad of players he has at his disposal.
"I don't think we can do anything different in terms of the way we play but what I can do is work that backline a lot more than I have with the choices I have now got at centre-half - Ian Evatt, Craig Cathcart, Dekel Keinan, Alex Baptiste and Rob Edwards," he added.
"I can get them working not too bad. Are they better than the lads I have had before? I think they are, but I have not really had a chance to work with them yet.
"I need to buy some more players before the transfer window goes, because I had three against Arsenal who I did not select and that is all I had.
"I need at least five or six more to give my lads even half a chance to survive anything until January."
There may not be much time to work on putting things right ahead of the trip to League One MK Dons but a cup tie may just provide Holloway and his players with some time to reflect.
"We were a bit disjointed against Arsenal but that is because of how good they were," said the Blackpool boss.
"No matter what happens, I have to try to pick these boys up and give them as much help as I can tactically.
"I could not do anything about it on the day but hopefully I can work on that on the training ground after watching the DVD and working with the analyst to get some bits for the lads to try to help them.
"Maybe we will have a lot of tough Monday mornings after the Saturday, but we did not launch into horrible tackles, we tried to get it and pass it ourselves - although we need to sharpen up.
"I have got plenty of work because we have got another game on Tuesday.
"We have to concentrate on whatever we can do and keep trying to do it as best we can - and we are never going to stop."
Holloway, who admits defence is the key area to concentrate on, is keen to continue strengthening his squad right up until the transfer deadline.
But he is happy with the squad of players he has at his disposal.
"I don't think we can do anything different in terms of the way we play but what I can do is work that backline a lot more than I have with the choices I have now got at centre-half - Ian Evatt, Craig Cathcart, Dekel Keinan, Alex Baptiste and Rob Edwards," he added.
"I can get them working not too bad. Are they better than the lads I have had before? I think they are, but I have not really had a chance to work with them yet.
"I need to buy some more players before the transfer window goes, because I had three against Arsenal who I did not select and that is all I had.
"I need at least five or six more to give my lads even half a chance to survive anything until January."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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