St Albans City boss David Howell admitted his team need to rediscover their league form quickly after suffering an FA Cup exit at the hands of Lowestoft Town.

The Saints crashed out of their second cup competition in consecutive weeks after a 1-0 defeat at Clarence Park in front of 506 supporters which was their biggest crowd of the season.

This followed their FA Trophy elimination against Arlesey Town last week and their focus will now turn towards challenging for promotion in the Southern Premier Division.

Howell, whose side host Arlesey Town tonight in the league, said: “The only good thing about the position we’re in is the players don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves or to wallow in self pity. We have to pick ourselves up. We’ve got to try and get back to the form we were in in the league before these two cup defeats.

“We were always focused 100 per cent on the league. It’s good to relieve that pressure sometimes with cup football and focus on them. I said it would be great to end September in a good league position and still in two cups but we're now out of them both.

“These two matches losing by the odd goal is not only a blow for the players but also the club. The supporters who have turned out might feel let down and disappointed but we’ve got to go and bounce back.”

Ryman Premier highfliers Lowestoft grabbed the winning goal after an hour when Joe Francis fired an effort past goalkeeper Nick Jupp. Howell’s biggest frustration from the cup defeat was their lack of tempo in the second half when they needed to get back into the game.

The former Harrow Borough manager said: “I felt we lost the game either side of half-time. Lowestoft came into it a little bit but for 15 minutes up to when they scored they built up the momentum and that culminated with the goal they actually got. I wanted us to raise the tempo and increase the energy levels and it suited them us taking our time because they were doing the same.

“I wanted us to step it up but we didn't at all in the second half. If anything we played into their hands really and allowed them to dictate the game for that period. When we had a chance to get the ball forward we gave it away or it broke down quickly.

“We couldn’t get going at all. I suppose it was going to happen if we were playing that way. They got the goal in the second half and after that they were quite happy and content with that. They restricted us to one or two opportunities.”

Howell believes his side had chances to win the cup tie in the first half but after falling behind had an uphill task against a well drilled Lowestoft Town side who were intent on avoiding defeat.

He added: “I think the opportunities were there in the first half. Once they got their goal in the second half they weren’t going to give anything away. I don't think the keeper had a save to make in the second half and that’s the disappointing thing.

“They came here to make sure they didn’t lose and anything else they obviously would have taken.

“I made the lads aware of that and when I wanted them to increase the tempo we seemed to go the opposite way. This allowed them to dictate and control the game.”

The Saints will host Barwell in the league this weekend.