Ashton perplexed by league form

By Ben Blackmore  

Ashton perplexed by league form

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New Bath coach Brian Ashton has admitted he does not know why his team are struggling so badly in the Guinness Premiership.

Ashton was hailed as the club's savour on his appointment, as he picked up the reigns of a side that have not scored a home league try all season.

However, consecutive losses to Sale Sharks and Leeds Tykes have cemented the mystifying contrast between Bath's desperate league and emphatic cup form.

"It's been a most bizarre season in terms of results at Bath because we're next to bottom of the Premiership, but haven't lost a game in the Powergen Cup or in the Heineken Cup yet," Ashton told Sky Sports News.

"It's very difficult to explain, I hope you don't ask me to explain it because I can't."

Club captain Danny Grewcock was more forthcoming with a solution to the current problems, demanding a better workrate from his men come matchday.

"We need to get on with it a bit more on the pitch. The work off the field is done really well.

"For us its a question of us addressing it on the pitch and getting it right. We've had a few good meetings so hopefully we'll fix the problems now," said the England lock.

Bath travel to Bourgoin on Friday knowing that victory would secure a home tie in the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup, and flanker Michael Lipman insists that their European form can inspire a domestic revival.

"It'll be a hard game but I think we'll win, then we've got Leinster at home so we've just got to get back the confidence we had," said Lipman.

"We had a really good win at Worcester away and just the last two games have been a bit disappointing.

"We just need to get the confidence back and hopefully on winning ways and the relegation zone wont be anywhere on the picture."