Defeat was unacceptable - Ruddock

Ruddock's side still has a nine-point gap over Bristol

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock says he has to pick his players up after their 37-18 hammering at bottom side Bristol.

Warriors would have guaranteed survival with victory on Sunday.

Ruddock told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "I have got to try and pick the guys up for Wednesday, while letting them know how unacceptable that performance was.

"We have a couple of difficult weeks ahead, everything is still in our hands but we have to play better than that."

Ruddock was further frustrated by his team coming back into the game after a shocking start, when they were 17-0 down to Bristol.

They scored two fine tries and trailed 17-15 just after half time, but then slumped again as the home side ran in six tries.

Ruddock said: "I will have a look at all of the tries, but they caught us with a sneaky one at the front of the line-out.

"We didn't turn up for long periods and made schoolboy errors. It was frustrating to say the least.

"We just have to dust ourselves down and go again, it is in our hands and we must focus on the rest of the season."

Warriors have been hit by yet more injury problems, with replacement flanker Matt Cox playing the final few minutes of the match with a dislocated shoulder and Rico Gear pulling out on the morning of the game with a hamstring injury.

Worcester Warriors play Harlequins at the Stoop on Wednesday, 1 April (1945 BST) and there will be full commentary on the game on BBC Hereford & Worcester.