Wrexham: Promotion challengers must ‘dust themselves off’ after FA Cup exit

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says there is no “silver lining” to their FA Cup first round exit at Harrogate but insists there is still an “incredibly exciting season” ahead.

And Parkinson has told his players they must “dust themselves off” ready for a big League One game against promotion rivals Mansfield Town next weekend.

The Hollywood-owned north Wales club have enjoyed high-profile runs to the fourth round of the FA Cup in both the last two seasons.

However, despite dominating in front of the TV cameras at the Exercise Stadium on Sunday, they were beaten 1-0 by their League Two opponents.

“I’ve been on the giant-killing side of it many times and today we came here, picked a strong team, took the game really seriously, obviously,” said Parkinson.

“Do I think there’s a lack of effort out there? I really don’t. I thought the lads gave us their all to get back in it, it’s just that quality when it was needed the most.”

Wrexham had 62.5% possesion in the game and outshot Harrogate by 21 efforts on goal to nine, but could not force an equaliser to the Sulphurites’ first-half goal which saw Jack Muldoon left unmarked to head home from a Harrogate corner.

“I don’t think there is a silver lining because I’m disappointed with the dominance we had [that] we haven’t won the game,” added Parkinson.

“When we look back at it and analyse the crosses and the positions we got, you don’t get in those areas that many times in a game and usually not score, but today it wasn’t to be and we’ve got to give them credit because they are good defensively when they defend deep.”

There may be no cup run this season for Parkinson’s side – Wrexham were also eliminated in the first round of the EFL cup at Sheffield United – but they are well placed in League One to challenge for a third successive promotion.

“Of course, it’s an incredibly exciting season ahead of us,” said Parkinson.

“It’s still early in the season, and this is a setback for us because we wanted to progress in the Cup, and the last two years we’ve progressed and done well.”

“Today wasn’t our day and we move forward together, that’s the key. We’ve taken a lot of plaudits in the cups over the last few years but we move forward together and take the defeat firmly on the chin.”

And there will be no time for a cup-exit hangover. Wrexham are third in League One, just a point ahead of their next opponents Mansfield who visit the Stok Racecourse on Saturday, 9 November (12:30 GMT).

“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,” said Parkinson.

“Today’s a day we’ve got to take as a defeat firmly on the chin and we’ve got to dust ourselves down next week and come back ready against Mansfield.”