PAUL RUTHERFORD believes Wrexham return to their relegation battle with renewed confidence after giving Rochdale a run for their money.

Wrexham were beaten 1-0 by League One Dale in Tuesday’s FA Cup first round replay at Spotland.

Missed chances once again proved costly - Wrexham had opportunities to kill the game off in the first meeting between the sides - but Rutherford says the third from bottom Reds will be buoyed by those performances against a team playing two divisions higher.

“It’s not often that you come off against a team two divisions higher and feel really disappointed about the outcome,” said Rutherford.

“At times they had better spells on the ball but we were always in control of the game despite not having as much of the ball.

“We had the better opportunities.

“It is a tough one to swallow because over the two games, I thought we were really good value to progress to the next round.”

Rutherford, looking to build on the 1-0 win over then-leaders Bromley in Wrexham’s last league game three weeks ago when the Reds take on Yeovil this weekend, added: “It is disappointing to have had an absence from the league but we have had two good ties against a League One outfit and it puts us in good stead going into the Yeovil game.

“It has not diminished our confidence. We beat Bromley and we have just given Rochdale a run for their money, there was only one goal in it over the two games.

“We are really confident going into the Yeovil game that we are going to make it a difficult afternoon for them.”

Despite the lowly league position, Rutherford feels there are signs that Wrexham are heading in the right direction under Dean Keates who returned for a second spell as manager last month.

“I talk a lot about the effect that the gaffer has but his last spell in charge, I really felt like he unified the club and he got that mentality where everyone worked for each other, and everyone fought for the outcome of the game,” said Rutherford.

“I think that has returned and why we are playing a little bit better.

“We are playing on the front foot a bit more, he has really galvanised the place and if we perform like that in the league, we are going to start moving in the right direction.

“I am gutted about losing to Rochdale but there are positives we can take into the league, which is ultimately what we are judged by over the course of the season.”