Steve Rhodes felt Worcestershire were justified in pushing for victory rather than settling for five points from a draw after Gloucestershire triumphed by five wickets in the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road.
Gloucestershire were set a target of 315 in 70 overs and triumphed with 10.2 overs to spare thanks to unbeaten centuries from Jack Taylor and Michael Klinger during an unbroken stand of 179 in 24 overs.
It was Worcestershire's first Championship setback of the season and they are still only 20 points behind leaders Essex despite this reversal.
Director Of Cricket Rhodes said: "We are a young side who will learn a lot from days like this and you've got to be prepared to lose to win games of cricket.
"We lost five draw points but if we are going to get promoted, we need to win games of cricket and that's how a lot of teams are wanting to play in Division Two.
"Only one side goes up and you've got to win games and draws are no good to you really.
"We were desperate to try and win the game.
"It was a great game of cricket but sadly for us it was a great performance by the two Gloucestershire batters (Klinger and Taylor)."
Rhodes is already turning his attention to the next challenges facing the County – back to back games in the Natwest T20 Blast starting with tomorrow evening's home clash with Yorkshire.
He said: "We shouldn't get too down about it. There is a game tomorrow and a game on Friday and that's the nature of our season.
"If you spend too much time worrying about what's gone on, then you are not ready for the next game and that's what I've told the lads.
"They need to be up and ready and raring to go and full of enthusiasm tomorrow."
The game was a superb advert for four-day cricket.
Rhodes said: "What a great game. I thought Gloucestershire played extremely well. In many ways at the start of the game, they had us in such trouble (at 34-5) with the new ball that they looked odds on winners.
"But the way we fought back was excellent and it was intriguing cricket all the way.
"The innings today from Taylor was outstanding but possibly more so was Michael Klinger holding them altogether.
"Without his stability, they wouldn't have been able to get that score. Without Jack Taylor's aggression, they wouldn't have been able to get that score.
"But they did get that score and sometimes you've got to take your hat off to the opposition.
"There were things we could have done better today but Gloucestershire are a good outfit, a side not prepared to roll down and die, and they thoroughly deserved today's victory after the way they played in that chase.
"Right from this morning, we were going to declare at 320.
"It was difficult because the aggression of some of the early order Gloucestershire players got them going. Then they had that stand."
