ACCRINGTON STANLEY could not have asked for a tougher tie in which to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.

The Reds lost their FA Cup replay against Harrogate 3-2 on Tuesday night - their first defeat in 17 games this season - and now face second-in-the-table Worksop town at home tomorrow (kick off 3pm).

Worksop will be hoping to close the seven-point gap between the two sides but top striker Paul Mullin hopes to make it bigger.

"We want to put even more daylight between us and them," said the striker, who has scored 10 goals this season for the UniBond Premier table-toppers.

"I remember we played them last season and beat them 5-0 at home but away was different and they were well-organised. They have started well.

"After losing on Tuesday we are going to have to get back on track quickly.

"It is probably just the sort of game we need to bounce back because we are going to have to raise our game.

"We were disappointed to get knocked out of the FA Cup because with a game against Wisbech in the next round we thought we had a great chance of getting through to the first round proper.

"We started the game really well against Harrogate and I thought we were going to steamroller them but then we took our foot off the pedal and they scored two quick goals which was a shock to the system. We came out in the second half and battered them again, pulled it back to 2-2 but then they scored again.

"It was a setback because of the money the club can win as well but I don't think we deserved to lose."

After so long without losing, the defeat was a bit of a 'new' experience.

"I've tasted defeat a few times before," laughed Mullin. "But it did jog my memory a little bit."

New signing Michael Knowles, who joined the club from Morecambe last week, could make his debut in midfield. He was ineligible to play in the FA Cup ties.