Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says defeat by Birmingham City was a League One learning curve for his team, admitting they did not handle the pressure.
The newly-promoted north Wales side suffered their first loss of the campaign as they went down 3-1 to Blues at a sold-out St Andrew’s.
Two goals from record signing Jay Stansfield and a third from Tomoki Iwata was just reward for a dominant display from the hosts.
But Parkinson, who saw his side threaten to upset the promotion favourites after Jack Marriott’s early opener, said his men should have responded better when Chris Davies’ side turned the crew to the delight of a raucous home crowd.
“Their [first] goal knocked us too much,” said Parkinson, whose side remain top on goal difference.
“And then we didn’t judge the ball quick enough for the next two goals – and if you give time to the quality of players Birmingham have got they will produce quality.
“But for us as a group it’s a god learning curve. We’ve hardly conceded a goal this season, we’ve not been behind in a game, but we have been behind in pivotal games over the last few years and we have responded better than we did here.”
Marriott’s fourth of the season less than three-minutes into the highly-anticipated game suggested Wrexham had rattled Birmingham, Parkinson saying the hosts looked “nervy” in the opening exchanges in front of the spotlight provided by the presence of their minority owner Tom Brady.
He added: “The way we played we looked like a team playing with assurance and confidence – as we should because we came here top.
“But the goal changed the feeling in stadium. They were very good after, but we could have done better. It wasn’t a lack of effort, but we have to learn from it and we will take lessons into the next games.
“Any defeat is tough to take, but we have to be realistic in terms of where we’ve come from. At the start of the season after six games – and the first three away games at Bolton, Peterborough and Birmingham – and to have only been beaten once, we would have taken it.
“They have spent more money than any team outside of the Premier League, and have good quality players, but there are areas to improve. It’s about responding and if we come up against that situation again, when we’re under pressure, can we do better?”
Parkinson says he remains excited about the games in front of his side, but admits Birmingham’s spending power has put them in an enviable position.
He added: “Every player we were going for, they were outbidding us or offering more wages; it was almost ‘let them sign who they want and everyone else will look for what else is out there’.
“No-one can compete in this division in terms of their spending and it would have been madness for us. If I was in their position, you’d get the best possible players you can and that’s what they’ve done.
“But as much as we haven’t got carried away with our start, you can’t get too carried away with Birmingham. With the options they’ve got, they will take some beating.
“It was a good performance by them, but there is a lot of football to be played.”