Alan Pardew has revealed the satisfaction he took from Crystal Palace's 2-0 EFL Cup second-round defeat of Blackpool.
A first-half own goal and substitute Connor Wickham's powerful strike secured a routine victory for his team at Selhurst Park.
They rarely seemed stretched by their League Two opponents after the manager gave debuts to Christian Benteke and Steve Mandanda and a first start to James Tomkins.
The £27 million club-record signing Benteke was replaced at half-time by Wickham -- as had been Pardew's plan -- but the 55-year-old was pleased he was given a chance to improve his match fitness in the same way the returning Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur also were.