WORCESTER CITY 'look forward to the challenge' of a tough game this weekend against AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
Last time out, City's fantastic month-long winning run came to an end, as they lost 3-0 to Bedworth United - conceding all three goals in the second half.
"If you don't turn up in games, you get beat. Ultimately that is what happened," said City skipper Adam Mace. "We dropped our standards that we had set and we got what we deserved."
Manager Chris Cornes felt the same, saying: "We were not good enough, Bedworth were all over us in the second half, and they thoroughly deserved to win the game."
Despite the disappointing result, City remain confident ahead of this weekend's fixture, having trained well last night (November 26).
"We had a good session last night," said Cornes. "We will have another one tomorrow night and go into Saturday hoping to go and put another three points on the board and keep in touch with where we need to be in the league."
City didn't lose ground on their top-of-the-table rivals with the weekend's results, as the two sides above them - Corby Town and Quorn - also both dropped points.
"Obviously it is good that they dropped points, and ultimately that is what we need them to do, but they are not going to give us too many opportunities," said Mace. "It was a good opportunity for us to close the gap there and we missed it."
The loss spelled the end of what has been an outstanding run for The Faithful - having won six, and kept four clean sheets on the bounce before facing off with Bedworth.
"We have been on a hell of a run, won some good games and a lot of clean sheets," said Cornes. "We’ve outworked and outrun a lot of teams."
City will hope to carry their good form across the rest of the month into their next game against AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
However, they are still unsure whether they will have Charlie Wise in their ranks for the game, with the defender - who has been vital to their performances over the month - having to come off early in the Bedworth match.
Cornes explained: "It looks like he has strained a muscle as he has tried to clear the ball and the lad has tugged his side, pulled a muscle in his side.
"He didn’t train last night, he will be reassessed tomorrow night before training, so a 50/50 for Saturday at the minute."
The side will also potentially have Nathan Hayward back, who has been out with an injury. Hayward trained last night (November 26), and is hoping to return to the side for the Rushden fixture.
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AFC Rushden and Diamonds provide strong opposition for City, as they look to bounce back. The side currently sit seventh in the table - four points off the playoff positions with a game in hand.
"We are under no illusions that is it going to be a very tough game," said Cornes. "They will be a good side so we have got to be on our best, and I am hoping that following Thursday we can put a result on the board before we go into December."
Mace added: "Another really tough game for us, as every game is at the moment, I just have a feeling that we will react after last week.
"There is only 11, 16-odd players that can make a difference and they are in our changing room."
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