ESSEX assistant head coach Anthony McGrath has urged his side to forget Sunday’s T20 Blast defeat to Gloucestershire and get back on track this week.

The Eagles suffered a 30-run defeat to the South Group leaders at Cheltenham on Sunday, on the back of a 61-run reverse against Gloucestershire in their County Championship match at the same venue.

But Essex have a quick chance to re-ignite their bid for a quarter-final slot in the 20-over competition with matches against Sussex and Kent this week.

“We came into the game on a good run in the competition and now need to get back to winning ways quickly,” said McGrath.

“Gloucestershire and Glamorgan are pulling away from the pack, but it is still in our own hands to reach the quarter-finals.”

Essex go into this week’s matches in fifth place and start with seventh-placed Surrex at Chelmsford on Thursday evening (7pm).

They then head across the Queen Elizabeth Bridge 24 hours later to take on third-placed Kent at Canterbury.

And McGrath and head coach Chris Silverwood are looking for Essex to put their defeat to Gloucestershire behind them.

“We were outplayed in all departments,” McGrath said. “Gloucestershire showed why they are group leaders. They are a very well-drilled, with players who know their roles.

“The key was we didn’t take wickets up front. If you don’t take early wickets, it becomes very difficult to defend in the closing overs.”