Andrew Waterworth insists Linfield will dust themselves down and 'go again' after losing to Crusaders on Friday night.
Rory Hale's goal sealed a 1-0 win for the Crues at Seaview in a cagey Danske Bank Premiership showdown in North Belfast.
Crusaders now sit six points clear at the top of the table, and 10 in front of the champions who still have three games in hand.
Waterworth came on as a second half substitution as David Healy threw everything at the hosts, but they were unable to muster a response to Hale's stunning finish in the 48th minute.
"It is always disappointing losing to your potential title challengers, but on the grand scale of things the better team won tonight," Waterworth said.
"The boys are pretty distraught in there, and downbeat. We will learn from this defeat and move on.
"Crusaders lay down a marker tonight and took their chance when it came. We were probably a bit naive at times.
"It is a defeat and we have to bounce back as quickly as we can.
"Crusaders are streetwise and these games come down to small margins and they took it tonight. Rory Hale's goal was a great finish."
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