You're going to have these nights and it's how you bounce back from them that really matters.
That seems to be message coming out of the Whitecaps after last night's poor showing against the LA Galaxy.
And so it should be.
Games like this can only be used as learning points and development for the team to move forward.
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We're still sitting third (at least until after today's Cascadia derby), have a seven point cushion for a playoff spot, have played some lovely football all season and have some really exciting talent.
It's easy to get a bit down after a dismantling like that, but we certainly shouldn't be hitting any panic buttons just yet.
There are concerns though and it's up to the management team to quickly address them.
It was the worst we've seen the Caps play all season and hopefully that is as bad as it gets, as LA tore our defence to pieces in that first half.
It was a DIY disaster at the Home Depot Center. They did it to themselves.
We should be getting used to these games against LA now mind you. They seem to have our number in MLS action.
Three games, three losses, no goals scored and ten against. Scary stuff.
And it could have been a lot worse if the Galaxy had taken their chances, and if we hadn't regrouped for that second half and they seemed to take their foot off the gas a little.
That is pretty much the only positive we can take from the evening.
Our defence has been stellar all season, yet last night they were communicating as if they had never seen each other before.
Martin Bonjour had a mare, and Jay DeMerit wasn't far behind him.
It was as if the pair were saying to Martin Rennie, "Bocanegra's a great idea".
How can a defence that is amongst the best in Major League Soccer, and one that has recorded seven clean sheets, have a goal difference of minus one??!
No team sitting third in the West should have a minus goal difference!
The simple answer is when we lose, we crash and burn big time.
We've only lost four times this year, but they have been by margins of 3-1 (twice), 4-1 and 3-0.
Brutal.
It's hard to find players that actually get any pass marks.
We had four strikers on the pitch in that second half and offered hardly any attack.
Darren Mattocks just wasn't getting the supply he needs and Sebastien Le Toux was MIA for most of the match.
At least Camilo provided a little spark when he came on.
The midfield were dominated and will now be weakened, with Jun Marques Davidson's suspension and another possible injury to John Thorrington. Barry Robson's going to get thrown straight into the mix whether that was the original plan or not.
How someone who is still technically in pre-season shape and form going to handle the heat and altitude in Colorado for his first match in MLS?
The worst aspect of the loss was that the Galaxy are right back in the playoff mix again.
They were always going to be.
I've been waiting weeks for them to finally click and hit their stride and now, with three wins on the trot, they're starting to climb the table and are sitting fifth.
We're now looking at six teams battling for the five playoff spots (I still think Chivas will slowly start to drop off).
It doesn't take much of a run, good and bad, for the West to really tighten up. The last few weeks of the season could be epic, with all to play for.
Last night's loss wasn't how you really want to start a five game road trip, but it sets up the next match for being of huge importance.
It could still be shaping up for ourselves and Colorado to be battling it out for the last playoff spot.
We have a seven point lead over the Rapids, but they have a game in hand. They win that and win on July 4th, and we're looking at a one point cushion and we have horrible goal difference.
Not much room for error then.
Getting anything out of the game in Colorado is now the number one priority in this tough spell of games.
With the heat, altitude, injuries and suspensions, it's going to be difficult, but it's going to be the mark of just how much of Championship contenders this Vancouver Whitecaps side really is.
'Mon the Caps.
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<b>AFTN 3-2-1:</b>
Possibly our hardest one yet. Not even sure about it without watching the game again and I don't want to do that!
3 points - JUN MARQUES DAVIDSON (worked extremely hard covering at the back)
2 point - YOUNG-PYO LEE (worked hard up and down the right wing, with little to show for it. best of a bad bunch at the back)
1 point - CAMILO SANVEZZO (at least added some spark for second half)
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