Kevin McHattie insists Scotland under-21s have no option but to take their embarrassing defeat to England on the chin if they are to bounce back with a win over Holland.
The Hearts defender admits the players were hurting badly after the 6-0 thrashing at Bramall Lane in a friendly last month.
But he is adamant the young Scots will not dwell on the result as they prepare to steer themselves back on track in the European Championship qualifier in Nijmegen.
He said: “The boys were disappointed with the last result but we’ve got to build ourselves up and look forward to this game. It’s a massive game in the qualifiers and we are looking forward to it.
“Especially with it being against England, that result was going to hurt us, but it’s vital that we move on and hopefully we can perform well in this game.
“We’ve just got to take it on the chin and try to perform well in the next game. We are not going to dwell on it that’s probably the wrong thing to do.”
Holland are favourites to top the group but McHattie says Scotland can take heart from a 2-1 win at the same venue in November 2011.
He said: “They are a good team and they have a lot of good players.
“They are quick, direct, good at the back and good going forward. We just have to be on our toes and watch out for that. The last group of 21s beat them 2-1 so we have got faith. We’ve just got to work hard and see what we can do.”
Billy Stark’s side sit level on points with Slovakia at the top of the group, with the Dutch kicking off their own campaign against the Scots.
McHattie said: “We’ve had a good start. We have played one and won one and we can’t ask for much more than that. We have to see what we can do in this game now.
“Hopefully, if things go our way, we will be sitting top of the group with six points.”
The young defender established himself in the Hearts first-team last season and is keen to continue his progress for both club and country this term.
He was forced to sit out last week’s defeat to Inverness after failing to overturn a ban and is desperate for a return to action.
McHattie said: “I was disappointed to be suspended at the weekend but that’s football and you’ve just got to take it on the chin. This game is key for me to get playing and then go back to Hearts and play well.
“Hearts have given me a massive opportunity to show what I can do and hopefully I can keep my position, which is what I’ve been trying to do for the last six months or so. I’ve been doing well and I’ve just got to keep that up.”