Roy Winters says Bristol are still play-off challengers

Winters was sin-binned for killing the ball late in the first half at Nottingham

Stand-in skipper Roy Winters insists that Bristol remain in the Championship promotion picture despite Sunday's 43-24 play-off defeat at Nottingham.

Dan Montagu's late try drew Bristol to within six points, but a calamitous few final minutes saw them ship 13 points to lose their second game in a row.

"We shot ourselves in the foot and it makes it much more difficult, but we're still in it," Winters told BBC Bristol.

Jack Adams, Jack Tovey and Mark Davies also scored tries for the visitors.

Bristol were 14-10 down at the break, with Winters in the sinbin, but then struggled to get on top of their hosts throughout the second period.

"We came out with great endeavour," said Winters, who led the side in the absence of the suspended Iain Grieve. "But, when we're giving away penalties and turning over the ball in the red zone, it's going to be difficult."

Head coach Paul Hull told BBC Radio Bristol: "The reason we lost was ill discipline and poor execution.

"We clawed our way back into position, six points behind with a bit of time on the clock with two losing bonus points, but to finish up with the scoreline like it is bitterly disappointing."

Bristol are now bottom of Pool A, six points behind second-placed Nottingham and London Welsh.

They now face both in crucial back-to-back matches, the first of them away from home this Saturday (1400 GMT) against the Exiles, who they beat 23-6 at the Memorial Stadium in January.

"We beat them at home with a good performance and we've just got to replicate that," added Winters.