Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan was heavily critical of his players following the defeat to Cardiff Blues at Kingsholm.
Gloucester continue habit of coming up short on the big occasion
Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan was heavily critical of his players following the defeat to Cardiff Blues at Kingsholm.
Bradley Davies' 75th-minute try sealed a 16-12 success for the Welsh side, who played 53 minutes with 14 players after Tom James was shown a red card for head butting Olivier Azam.
Gloucester's points came from four Olly Barkley penalties but they created few try scoring chances in heavy conditions and now require a bonus-point win in Biarritz next Friday - combined with results elsewhere going their way - if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.
Unbeaten Pool Six leaders Cardiff have no such worries, not only reaching the last eight as group winners, but also guaranteeing top seed status if they defeat Italian strugglers Calvisano in their final fixture.
"It wasn't good enough. We are coming second in these head-to-head contests at the highest level," said Ryan.
"It has got to change. We can't keep getting found out.
"We came clearly second, and we haven't made enough progress to compete at this level.
"It is a situation we've been in before, and we cannot allow it to keep going on.
Outgunned
"At this high level of Heineken Cup rugby, it is based on physicality and discipline, and we've repeatedly come second in those areas.
"We've lost any form of control in the group. There is a mathematical possibility for us if we win in Biarritz with a bonus point."
Cardiff are now the only team in this season's tournament with a 100 percent record after five group games.
James' premature exit left his team with a mountain to climb and potentially dashed his hopes of challenging for a place in Wales' RBS Six Nations squad, which is announced on January 19.
Blues boss David Young. however, was also critical of Azam's "Hollywood" reaction after James made contact.
Young said: "It was a silly thing for Tom to do. It was more a defensive gesture than an aggressive one.
"He (Azam) went for the Hollywood, which is something we want to take out of the game.
"When I was playing, you didn't see hookers going down as quickly as that. We don't want to see players out there looking like soccer players."
Desire
Centre Jamie Roberts, one of the heroes of a sterling defensive effort, was delighted, saying: "What a performance - I am lost for words, really.
"We put a game-plan together at half-time, and it was all about work-rate with a man off the pitch.
"We were very efficient at the contact area, but heart and desire counts more than anything."
Young added: "We've built strong foundations. The team play for each other and have a real hard edge.
"We haven't achieved anything yet, but if we can go through to the quarter finals unbeaten, it would be a huge a statement."
The Blues join Munster and Harlequins in the last eight, with Quins winning Pool Four following Stade Francais' surprise defeat against the Scarlets.
The five remaining places will be decided after next weekend's final ground of group games.
