CRAIG Robinson insists Warrington Town must shake off their FA Cup hangover when table-topping Northwich Victoria visit on New Year’s Day.

Defeat to Prescot Cables on Boxing Day meant Town lost back-to-back league games for the first time since August.

Shaun Reid’s side finished the game with nine men, with Robinson and skipper David Mannix both seeing red in the second half.

The defender feels Town’s time in the limelight has seen them incur some rough justice recently, but says it is something they must learn to overcome.

“It’s time for us to stand up and be counted,” explained Robinson. “We need to get together as a club and get points on the board.

“There couldn’t be a better game for us to do that than against Northwich. We haven’t played many games in the league so it’s been difficult.

“Looking at the league table (Town are 16th), none of us are happy with it and we’ve got to put that right. We can’t afford to be losing the games we have done.”

The 32-year-old was understandably disappointed with Friday's 2-1 defeat, which followed a home loss to Bamber Bridge six days earlier.

“We had another disappointing game against Bamber Bridge so wanted to get the result we needed,” he added.

“Unfortunately we conceded against the run of play and that gave them a bit of a lift. We were still confident we would win the game.

“We had Manno sent off, which I’m not sure you would say was a sending off, but were still the better side. Then I got sent off which, again, I’m not sure was a red card.

"I feel almost as though people are punishing us for what we have done in the FA Cup.

“We’re getting recognised, but we’ve got to get over that and overcome it ourselves. Everyone wants to beat us now, and we want to beat everyone else, but you see that little bit extra from them after we have done so well in the FA Cup.”

FA Cup first-round goalscoring hero Robinson - along with Mannix - now faces three weeks on the sidelines.

He suffered more frustration when Town’s clash with New Mills fell to the weather on Sunday, although remains confident the Yellows can deal with a fixture backlog later in the season.

He added: “It’s going to be frustrating for me and it was frustrating Sunday’s game was called off as you want to put it right as soon as you get beat.

“We’ve got a big squad and good enough players to go and do the job. I enjoy it when the games come thick and fast, when they’re every two days or so.”

As for the visit of Vics on Thursday, Robinson admits they are occupying a spot Town would love to make their own.

“We coped well with being at the top for large spells last year,” he said. “It’s hard when you’re up there but that’s where we want to be.

“We’re looking up at sides and we want to beat everybody above us.”