Richard Hill is confident Bristol can turn things around after a nightmare start to the 2008-09 campaign.
Bristol boss upbeat despite poor form
Richard Hill is confident Bristol can turn things around after a nightmare start to the 2008-09 campaign.
Hill's men lost 23-16 at home to Saracens on Wednesday evening, their fifth straight Guinness Premiership defeat of the season.
They are bottom of the pile having collected only two losing bonus points, and are without a league victory since March.
"If we were playing terribly, you would have to worry," said Hill.
"But we have got the fire-power to get out of it, there is no doubt about that.
"Obviously we are disappointed to lose, but we played some very good rugby and it might have been different had a couple of kicks gone over.
"I thought we ran Saracens to a stand-still at times, but we just couldn't find the killer blow.
"If we keep playing like that and keep the spirits up, which I know we will do, then we will win some matches."
Jarvis culpable
Hill refused to blame goal-kicker Adrian Jarvis, who missed three successive shots at goal, which proved in stark contrast to his opposite number Glen Jackson, who slotted five out of five penalties and also landed a drop goal for good measure.
"He has had a medial knee ligament strain, but we know how important Adrian is to us," added Hill.
"I am not going to fault him for missing those couple of kicks - I thought it was outstanding that he played the game."
In contrast, Saracens posted a third successive Premiership win courtesy of Jackson's 18 points and a first-half try from wing Kameli Ratuvou.
"A lot of our boys have never won at Bristol before," said Saracens boss Eddie Jones.
"It was scratchy, but we showed a bit of grit and you have got to to win those sort of games.
"A win down here is a good result, and I thought that Glen Jackson's control of the game was pretty good once again."
Saracens prevailed despite suffering two first-half injury blows that saw centre Adam Powell (knee ligaments) and full-back Richard Haughton (foot) go off.
Haughton is set to undergo a scan on Thursday, but neither player is likely to be involved against EDF Energy Cup opponents the Scarlets at Vicarage Road on Sunday.
