PHIL PARKINSON says Wrexham can't afford to dwell on recent disappointments and need to move on when they face Mansfield Town at The Racecourse on Saturday.
The League One high-fliers crashed out of the FA Cup on Sunday after suffering a 1-0 defeat against League Two Harrogate Town in the first round tie at Wetherby Road.
Prior to that loss, the Reds produced an excellent performance away to Charlton Athletic but conceded an equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time and had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Despite the late blow, third-placed Wrexham are only four points behind new leaders Wycombe Wanderers, who went top on goal difference after a stunning 5-0 win at Stockport County on Tuesday night.
The Reds return to league action on Saturday at home to Mansfield Town, who were promoted alongside Wrexham from League Two last term and sit fourth in the standings.
There have been setbacks to deal with but Parkinson says the players have to pick themselves up because the Reds remain in a good position with just over a quarter of the season gone.
"We have got to make sure that we don't let the disappointment of going out of the cup and the last minute goal against Charlton bring us down," he said.
"We have just got to deal with those disappointments and move on. Take a lot of the positives from the Charlton display because I really feel that was a strong performance from us, and take that into the Mansfield game.
"I was so proud of the way we played. Obviously there was a lot of emotion at the end but the way we dominated the second half and parts of the first half was excellent, and we need to remind the lads of that.
"Naturally you expect a bit of flatness when you have been knocked out of the cup but my job now and the players' job is to quickly pick ourselves up.
"The nature of football is you do lose games and you have times where things don't go for you, and that was certainly the case on Sunday, but we have got to pick ourselves up and we will do.
"Football is about enjoying the wins but not getting too high, and not getting too low when you've got beat, and move on.
"We will come out and respond in a really positive way on Saturday.
"We will have a good look at Mansfield and get ready to get this place rocking. It is a cracking game for us."
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