Wrexham were beaten on penalties by Peterborough in the Vertu Trophy semi-final days before their League One clash with Wanderers.
The Red Dragons led 2-0 on the night after goals from Mo Faal and George Dobson, but Posh produced a late comeback to take the tie to a shoot-out.
Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee both missed from the spot as Peterborough progressed to the final against Birmingham. Darren Ferguson’s side are aiming to become the first club to win the competition in back-to-back seasons.
Phil Parkinson admitted the defeat was tough to take but insists the league campaign has always been Wrexham’s priority.
The Welsh club currently sit third in the table, three points behind second-place Wycombe, as they aim to build on back-to-back promotions from the National League.
“We left a lot of the players out who played against Mansfield on Sunday, they will be in (on Thursday) to train. We will be ready,” Parkinson _" target="_blank" class="link"> told the club channels.
“We have said before every round that the league is our number one priority and it always has been.
“But when you get so close, you want to finish the job off. We have done well in this tournament throughout the season.
“We had been unbeaten to get to this stage but now we have to focus on the league, learn from tonight, take the lessons and when you are leading in a game, we have to make sure we concentrate and are diligent in all areas of our play.
“Show a ruthlessness in your game to go and score the next goal, or certainly make sure you don’t concede. We gave a team, who were really out on their feet, a lifeline.”
Wrexham made eight changes from the side that won at Mansfield last weekend. Lee returned to the squad for the first time since he was in a road accident on his way home after the quarter-final against Bolton.
“We have thrown away a chance to go to Wembley as far as I am concerned, we were comfortable in the game,” Parkinson added.
“Two up, we made a lot of changes and I thought the lads did well. Two poor goals to concede, moments in the game, concentration and seeing the game through.
“Particularly the second one, head the ball out of the box. If you don’t win the first one you have to react to deal with the second better.
“From a game which looked so comfortable for us, to end up not going to Wembley is very difficult for us all but we have no-one to blame but ourselves.”
