Tonbridge boss Steve McKimm can’t wait to play catch-up in National League South.

His team have played four FA Cup games this season after reaching the First Round for the first time in 48 years.

But it’s meant Tonbridge have only played three league games in the opening five weeks of the season ahead of their trip to Chelmsford tonight.

“The league is our bread and butter,” said McKimm. “We need to concentrate on that because we’ve had more cup games than league games and that doesn’t sit right with me.

“After Saturday, we’re two or three games behind a lot of teams. We’ve got Saturday-Tuesday coming up for the next month or two but we’ve got to deal with it and that’s part and parcel of football.

“If you’re successful in the cup it is going to hinder you somewhere else and that’s in our league. We’ve got to get back on the bike and go again.”

McKimm’s biggest task might be lifting his troops from their 7-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of Bradford on Saturday.

Chelmsford won 4-0 at Welling on Saturday so Angels will have their work cut out if they are to bounce straight back.

“The FA Cup is great exposure for the club and a great day out – they’ve got their shirts to go home with and stuff like that,” added McKimm. “But Monday is our bread and butter so we need to start picking up points in the league again.

“We didn’t want to get beaten by that scoreline but it happens in football. No-one wants it to happen to their club, especially when you’re being televised.

“We’ve got to pick the players up to make sure their egos aren’t bruised so we’re ready to go for that game because it’s an important game for us away from home.”

Tonbridge won their first league game 2-0 away to Billericay but have since lost to surprise frontrunners Hungerford (2-0) and Oxford City (4-0). They sit 18th in National League South with three points from three games.

• I'll take the blame for 7-0 FA Cup defeat

• Match report: Tonbridge 0 Bradford 7

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