PHIL PARKINSON described being dumped out of the FA Cup by League Two Harrogate Town as a "reality check" for Wrexham.

The Reds lost 1-0 against Simon Weaver's side in Sunday's first round clash at Wetherby Road with Jack Muldoon's first half header separating the teams.

Wrexham are flying high in League One and still have a lot to play for this season but Parkinson says a big improvement is needed after the Reds, who reached the fourth round of the cup in each of the last two seasons, were knocked out at this stage of the competition by Harrogate for a second time in four campaigns.

"We haven't had too many days like this since I've been at the club where we've been expected to win and not produced," he said.

"We have got to take the defeat firmly on the chin and dust ourselves down.

"We’ve got a lot of improving to do, this is a reality check for us and we get back in training, ready to work again for next week against Mansfield.

"It's an incredibly exciting season ahead of us. It's still early in the season. 

"This is a set-back for us because we wanted to progress in the cup and the last two years we have progressed and done well.

"It wasn't our day. We have taken a lot of plaudits in the cup over the last few years but we move forward together and take the defeat firmly on the chin."

Back-to-back promotion winners Wrexham are left to focus on the league but Parkinson said: "I don't think there is a silver-lining as I'm stood here speaking because I'm disappointed that with the dominance we've had, we haven't not taken the game to extra-time but we haven't won the game.

"I have been on the giant-killing side of it many times.

"We picked a really strong team and took the game really seriously; it's the FA Cup, as we spoke to the lads about.

"I don't think there was a lack of effort out there but it's just that quality to get back in it when it was needed the most."