Port Vale suffered their first defeat of pre season yesterday after an early Nathan Delfouneso goal sent Blackpool away with a 1-0 win.
In a game that manager Neil Aspin admitted wasn't played at a "frenetic" level, the manager was content with the way his team have taken to the new formation and felt there were plenty of positives to take from the match.
"For a pre season game it was a good work out. It was a competitive game. I thought after conceding an early goal it was a good test to see if we kept our shape which we did.
"I thought as the first half wore on I thought we were the better team. The first 10 minutes we obviously didn't start too well, we sat off them and didn't press the ball high enough up the pitch and surrunded a lot territory to them and we were too deep.
"After the first 10 minutes I thought we passed the ball well and should've been at least level going in at half time."
Starting with the same back as three as he did at Halifax Town, and impressed with the way his side kept their shape against a League 1 opposition, Neil Aspin indicated that there is still more that needs to be done with the formation.
One of those players starting in that new back three was new signing, Connell Rawlinson, who has impressed the gaffer since arriving and has been a regular starter this pre season.
Speaking on Scott Quiggley clearing Connell's effort off the line, Neil said: "I felt for Connell because I thought he was excellent in that first half and deserved the goal and it was a great header. I would rather it go in though in a couple of weeks time then today, but of course you want to win games.
"It's early days and we have to keep working (on the formation) and looking at things. We've got to keep educating the players and getting them better in certain areas.
"If you look at the chances especially in the first half that Blackpool created, I don't think there was any apart from the goal. There are positives that we can work on over the next two weeks."