Steve Meehan has confessed that Bath will have to put in "a really good effort" to reach this season's Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
Bath head coach insists team will fight back
Head coach Steve Meehan has confessed that Bath will have to put in "a really good effort" to reach the Heineken Cup quarter-finals following their dramatic home loss to Stade Francais.
Bath's European hopes suffered a potentially fatal blow when Julien Dupuy snatched a 29-27 triumph for the Top 14 side at The Rec.
The scrum-half scored his seventh penalty in the final minute to condemn Bath to their second successive Pool Four defeat.
No team in Heineken Cup history have reached the quarter-finals after losing their opening two group games, and Meehan is well aware of the colossal challenge now facing his side.
Hope
"We are going to have to play very well in our remaining four games and hope other results go our way," he said. "It is going to take a really good effort."
Tries from fly-half Nicky Little, who scored 22 points, and centre Matt Carraro put Bath ahead 21-9 just before half time.
But Dupuy's penalty haul together with a Lionel Beauxis drop-goal and a late try by England sevens star Ollie Phillips saw Stade edge a classic encounter.
"I won't be too hard on the players. It is obviously very disappointing for all of the guys," added Meehan.
"Unfortunately, we were penalised a couple of times too often, and perhaps we went away a little from how we played in the first half.
"But we played a much better brand of rugby than we did against Ulster last week, and we will continue to try to develop that."
Matt Banahan showcased his line-breaking prowess from broken field play spectacularly as the Bath winger impressed ahead of England's autumn Test series, which kicks off against Australia in November.
His impressive game was, however, slightly tainted by a questionable second-half yellow card, collected for what was alleged to be a high tackle on Stade wing Mirco Bergamasco by referee George Clancy.
"It was a terrific, legal tackle," said Meehan on the sin-binning. "Where does that (yellow card) come from? He didn't deserve 10 minutes in the bin."
Stade's victory marked the latest in a string of triumphs for French clubs over English opponents, following wins for Perpignan, Biarritz and Toulouse over Northampton, Gloucester and Harlequins respectively in round two.
England international Tom Palmer admits the French team's dream of reaching the Heineken final in their home city of Paris remains firmly alive.
Huge desire
"Stade have been in two European finals and lost them both," said Palmer.
"There is a huge desire within the squad to put that right. The final being in Paris is a real motivating factor.
"Away wins in the Heineken Cup are so important. If you can do that, while also winning your home games, then you are in charge of your pool."
Palmer's club and country colleague James Haskell agreed that winning an away game was particularly rewarding.
"I think we can compete with anyone, but you have to turn up on the day," added the flanker. "To come to Bath and win is pretty exciting."
