I’VE watched the DVD of Saturday’s game with Rochdale and the difference between the first and second half was quite alarming.

What set the tone for me just after half-time was when a long ball forward from their goalkeeper was not dealt with properly by our centre-backs.

That set a marker down and, after what followed, it’s been a case of going back to basics ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clash at Scunthorpe.

If you have number five on your back then it’s your job to win headers and clear the ball.

If you wear number nine then it’s your job to score goals.

It sounds simple and it is but every now and then I think you do need to go through things individually like that to make us into a better team.

We’ve been working on that and I’m looking forward to Saturday now because the FA Cup always get the juices flowing as far as I’m concerned.

Many people nowadays seem to question the magic of the competition but I’m certainly not one of them and I would love to have another good run in it this season.

For that to happen we must win against Scunthorpe this weekend.

I’m sure it’s a first round tie that hasn’t really excited too many people but that doesn’t concern me.

We beat them a few weeks ago so it’s a winnable tie, if we get the basics right.

I see it as a big game and really want us to be heading into the Christmas/new year period with an FA Cup third round tie to look forward to.

I also want us to have a JPT area final to look forward to in January as well so we have plenty to be working on.

OTHER PLAYERS WILL GET A CHANCE

I’M sure the list of possible availabilities will be elsewhere in the Echo today, but it does mean other players will get a chance.

Adam Thompson is fit again after his shoulder problem and is one of many waiting for a chance.

Adam Barrett has trained this week and could be another one looking to throw his hat into the ring.

We certainly do have options but one or two players are frustrated and may look to leave on loan.

At the moment they can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel but things can change so quickly in football that you’re never too sure what can happen.

Luke Prosser wasn’t in the team a month or so ago but now he’s started 10 games in a row and has been a strong member of the back four so things can turn around quite quickly.

The player who has attracted most interest from clubs is Jason Williams but I want his development to be with us.

I think teams think because he’s an under 21 that we might be looking to send him out on loan but that’s not the case.

Jason has been in the squad for a lot of our recent matches and is very much in my thoughts for these two cup games we have coming up, against Scunthorpe in the FA Cup and then at home to Bristol Rovers in the JPT.

GREAT WIN FOR YOUTH TEAM

IT was another great win for the under 18s in the FA Youth Cup earlier on in the week.

They’re on fire at the moment and there are some very good players in there.

Who knows, maybe one or two of them might be given a chance in the first team before long.

I won’t do it for the sake of it and I won’t weaken the team but these kids could earn a chance soon.

If that does happen then we do need to get behind them because fans booing a substitution could certainly affect the player coming onto the pitch.

We saw an example of that when Manchester United played CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night.

Louis van Gaal decided to bring on Marouane Fellaini in place Anthony Martial to put Wayne Rooney further forward.

The fans weren’t too happy but Wayne popped up to score and United won the game 1-0 so it showed it’s important to allow the players coming onto the pitch to make an impact before booing.

SEARCH FOR LOAN STRIKER

WHEN Myles Weston was forced to miss the Rochdale game at the weekend with an Achilles problem I think it maybe showed up our lack of strikers options at the moment.

Noel Hunt is taking longer than we would like to recover from an ankle problem which is frustrating and we may have to look at bringing another striker in on loan.