Worcestershire Head Coach Alan Richardson stressed the importance of remaining “consistent and calm” in dealing with the challenges of a Vitality Blast campaign during the ups and downs of a lengthy programme.
The Rapids won their opening four games to equal their best-ever start to the T20 competition and have then been beaten in the next three matches.
But they remain in the top four qualification positions in the North Group heading into next Friday’s sold-out derby with Birmingham Bears at New Road.
Richardson said: “In terms of momentum, it is important that we ride them both, the ups and downs. We have to stay really consistent.
“I’d like to think we didn’t get too far ahead of ourselves when we were going in a positive way.
“Having a few results going against us now, we have to remain level-headed, really consistent and calm with how we go about things.
“If we do the things we say we are going to do, we are going to give ourselves chances to win games of cricket.”
The Rapids went down by 26 runs to Yorkshire Vikings in a high-scoring fixture at Headingley on Friday evening.
The outcome may have been different had centurion James Wharton not survived a couple of early chances.
Richardson said: “Initial reaction? As usual, with a defeat, quite frustrated and a little disappointed, as the boys are. I thought we made a great effort of it with the bat.
“A little bit disappointed in the field, just not quite to our usual standards, which probably put is behind the eight ball a little bit after the first innings.
“We created a couple of opportunities, and we didn’t take those, and that can happen. James Wharton played very well and put us under a lot of pressure.
“We didn’t quite respond as well as we would have liked, and they probably got 20 too many on a belting pitch with a quick outfield.
“You felt like you could play strong shots and score quickly but just let ourselves down a bit in that first half, probably.
“The way we applied ourselves with the bat showed what a good pitch it was, and if we played well, we were always going to get a good score, and it would have been nice just to get a little bit closer.
“Kashif Ali and Ben Cox batted brilliantly well when we were behind the game a little bit and showed what could be done.”
