KEEPER Matt Gwynne believes his Worcester City team-mates have the right qualities to bounce back from their midweek FA Cup disappointment and mount a challenge for Midland League Premier Division honours.

City lost 2-0 to Northern Premier League side Chasetown in their replay on Tuesday and must dust themselves down ahead of two games in three days over the Bank Holiday weekend, starting with the visit of Loughborough University today (3pm).

“We’re never going to win the FA Cup but you want to have that run,” former Westfields shot-stopper Gwynne, 24, admitted.

“Now people are going to be looking at us to see how we react and that’s the big thing for us now — to deal with the defeat. 

“I’m sure we have the squad so we will come bouncing back.

“It shows how far we have come that we are disappointed to lose to a team from a higher league than ourselves. We feel we could have beaten them.

"But Sunday (the first match) was our chance because coming up to Chasetown in midweek was a tough ask.

“I’ve played in this league since I was 18 so I know it inside out. We’ll be up there pushing at the end of the season. 

“The difference with this side is we’re battlers. Some games might not be going well but we’ll battle because of the players we have in there.

"We have a team of winners and sometimes that’s more important than the quality.

"But we’re fortunate we have quality as well. It will be a disappointment if we don’t win this league.”

Gwynne, who signed from Westfields in the summer, suffered a muscle twinge in the first half of the replay but believes he will be fit for the weekend’s double-header.

But he will have competition from 18-year-old former trialist Tom Palmer who has signed on a one-month loan deal from Kidderminster Harriers.

Gwynne added: “I had a bit of a twinge and it cramped up a bit but I’m confident I’ll be OK.

"I was a little cautious with my kicking but we have had a few days for me to rest it.

“Dave Reynolds (head injury) was desperate to start (against Chasetown) but they didn’t want to risk him but I’m sure he’ll be there this weekend so hopefully we’ll get the numbers back in.”

Joint manager Lee Hughes won’t be fit to play today due to a thigh injury.

Midfielder Brad Birch's three-match ban for his red card on Sunday is set to kick in for Monday’s match at Coventry United (3pm).