BALTI Sports boss Marco Nott says the two-week break between games has given his side a chance to focus on their defence ahead of their League Cup tie at Merley Cobham Sports tomorrow (2.30pm).

Going into their clash at Merley, following a 6-0 drubbing at league champions Holt United, Balti have conceded 21 goals in six games and Nott feels his side have to be “a lot more careful” in defence.

He told Echosport: “We’ve had a good couple of weeks since the Holt game. We’ve really tried to work on our shape and be a bit tougher to play against.

“We’ll certainly look for a bit of a change of personnel, but we’ve always got goals in our team. We just need to be a lot more careful and take pride in our defending.”

Nott also wants his side to “show the improvement” they have made and added he would have taken their league placing – second – had he been offered it at this stage of the season.

“Up to our first break we would have taken the position we’re in. The Holt game was always going to happen because the good sides would punish us and that was the case.

“Hopefully we can go out and show the improvement.”

Balti face a Merley side containing ex-Dorchester striker Matt Groves, with Nott describing the draw as “difficult”.

“We do tend to do alright against Merley most of the time. It’s going to be difficult. They’re quite an experienced side with Matt up front and they’ve got some good players,” he said.

Ashley Batchelor and goalkeeper Andy Nott miss out, meaning the Balti manager will line up in goal.