MARCUS Bignot says his Guiseley side need to regroup ahead of a busy run of festive fixtures after their second cup exit in a week.

The Lions crashed out of the FA Trophy at the third qualifying round stage, losing 2-1 at home to Lancaster City in a replay on Tuesday night.

This came eight days after they were beaten by League One Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup second round.

But Bignot says his side now need to lick their wounds and regroup, as they have a rare free Saturday from action due to other side's FA Trophy first round commitments.

Instead they travel to Harrogate Town in the West Riding FA County Challenge Cup on Monday night.

Guiseley will then return to Vanarama National League North action on Saturday, December 22, when they go to rock bottom Nuneaton Borough.

Guiseley are 16th in the table on 20 points after their league clash with Hereford at Nethermoor last Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Bignot is also gearing up for a busy programme of games over Christmas and New Year. The Nuneaton clash is the start of four games in 10 days, which includes a festive double header with leaders Bradford (Park Avenue) and a home clash with Altrincham on December 29.

He has challenged his players to produce both on and off the ball during matches and turn their "too many draws" so far this season into wins to help them into the top half of the table.

Bignot said: "It was hugely disappointing to go out out the FA Trophy.

"It's disappointing to be out of a competition that we could have realistically go out and win.

"It is the first really disappointing moment of the season so far. I hope it's the only one.

"It felt bad after we had a really encouraging performance against Fleetwood in our last match.

"As a group we have got to score more goal and keep more clean sheets. It is a collective problem for us and we have go to find a solution.

"We want to be in the other half of the league table, and out of the bottom half. But we have drawn too many games so far. We have games in hand and that's why we are where we are.

"We have a key period coming up in December and January. We are going to have to be ready for a game to game spell. We have four games over Christmas, no training.

"As a management staff, we know what we want the team to do; play well on and off the ball. We have to bring those two characteristics together."