Notts County boss Luke Williams is welcoming a midweek break for his side after an intense few weeks in the National League title race.
The Magpies suffered just their second defeat of the campaign to Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday evening, with former Notts man Inih Effiong striking late to give the visitors a surprise victory over the league leaders.
Before the defeat at Meadow Lane, Williams' side had won their previous seven games in the league while extending their unbeaten run to 25 games which stretched back to mid-September in the league.
READ MORE: Five things learned from Notts County's 2-1 defeat to Dagenham and Redbridge
This month has seen the Magpies play six times in 19 days, including long trips away to Torquay and Yeovil while also picking up important victories over fellow promotion hopefuls Chesterfield and Barnet.
Next week will see Notts not playing on a Tuesday for the second time this month, with perhaps one eye focused on the Spireites' trip to Wrexham in another huge game in the battle at the summit.
And with a week to prepare for another testing away trip to Bromley, the Notts boss was on hand to detail what his side must do in their preparations for the trip to Essex to ensure they return to winning ways at the first time of asking.
"We have to work on the training pitch because we have new players still in our squad," explained Williams.
"Jodi is still new to the group and to the work, and of course, Connor is now in that same position so we have to try to help them understand every single detail and every single action that we try to play.
"We have to make sure every one of our players is in the right physical condition so they can be prepared for another tough game."
The disappointment on the face of Williams painted a thousand words, labelling his emotions as 'gutting' despite acknowledging how well his side played on the night.
But as he said shortly after the defeat at Meadowbank Park - the end of an unbeaten run is the start of a new one, with Williams keen to focus on bouncing back from the defeat.
"That is not strong enough to feel gutted and let that affect you, we have to be disappointed of course, but now we have to focus on putting that right - that is the challenge now.
"We have only lost a game once this season and we had to bounce back after that one, now we have to do the same.
"It would be easier if we played and got completely outplayed and maybe you can accept that result.
"But it's difficult to lose, and to lose in a game where we did so many things to be able to put the game safely out of reach for the opposition is difficult to accept, but that's football."
