Manager Craig Harrison insists The New Saints must respond immediately after their European campaign came to a disappointing halt on Thursday night.
TNS suffered a 1-0 defeat to Luxembourg’s Differdange which sealed a 2-0 aggregate loss in the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round.
With their European adventure now over, Harrison is urging his players to put the disappointment behind them immediately, with domestic commitments now taking priority.
“There can’t be any hangover or self-pity. We have to bounce back quickly because we have the Nathaniel Cup in three or four days’ time and then we are starting our defence of the league title a week later,” said the TNS boss.
“Football moves on quickly and that is what we have to do as well.”
The result will sting even more given TNS's achievement last season, when they became the first Welsh domestic club to reach the group stage of a European competition.
This time, however, their continental journey ends in July.
The Welsh champions had gone into the second leg in Luxembourg needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg at Park Hall.
Despite dominating the first half and creating chances, Harrison’s men failed to make their superiority count before a second-half penalty from Samir Hadji put the tie beyond reach.
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Reflecting on the result, Harrison didn’t hide his frustration at his side’s failure to take their chances.
“We played very well in the first half and dominated the game. But when you are on top in European football, then you have to score and we didn’t manage that,” he said.
“It would have changed the complexion of the game had we scored. But we didn’t.”
The Saints struggled to create clear openings throughout both legs and were punished when Ben Clark was judged to have handled inside the area in the 68th minute.
Hadji converted from the spot, doubling Differdange’s aggregate lead and ending TNS’s hopes of another historic run in Europe.
“They had a spell where they played well for 20 minutes and they got a penalty and scored,” Harrison continued.
“Maybe this was two or three weeks too early. We are still bedding in some new players.”
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Across both legs, TNS lacked the cutting edge needed to unlock a disciplined Differdange side.
Danny Redmond and Jordan Williams were both off target with efforts in the opening 45 minutes, while Ryan Brobbel’s well-struck volley looked destined for the top corner until it struck teammate Theo Brusco and flew over.
In the second half, Jordan Marshall’s smart low ball into the near post narrowly missed Ken Charles, starting in place of record signing Ben Wilson.
Meanwhile, Boris Mfoumou missed a golden chance for the hosts after breaking clear, dragging his shot wide.
At the other end, Charles came closest to scoring for TNS when he headed a Redmond cross just wide in the dying moments, and substitute Rory Holden fired inches past the post late on.
As the clock ticked down, the visitors pushed forward in search of a breakthrough, but a resolute Differdange defence held firm.
Goalkeeper Nathan Shepherd made a smart save to deny Artur Arbeu moments before the decisive handball incident.
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