DEFIANT Jon Callard claimed he was unworried about Bath's plunge to the foot of the Zurich Premiership after defeat by local rivals Bristol.

The 31-17 Memorial Stadium loss, coupled with Wasps' heavy battering of Leeds, saw Callard's troops tumble to the basement on points difference after just two wins in their opening eight league games.

But the Bath chief insisted he would not be forced into panic measures to avert his team's worrying early-season slide.

Callard insisted: "I'm not worried because the league table is irrelevant at this stage of the season.

"Once we get all our players back and we're not forced into chopping and changing all the time I know we can put a run together.

"I don't see anybody losing faith at this stage. We have won four European games and played well, but it's about getting consistency.''

However, Callard refused to blame his international absentees for the dismal show, adding: "I think we were good enough to have won this game, but if you don't have control of the football, you can't play.

"Bristol were better organised than us and had a very good forward unit that created opportunities.

"Not having these players makes it difficult, but it's not a subject for discussion. I was happy with the players that went out there to play.''

The coach also heaped credit on his players for responding with two second-half tries, bringing some respectability to the scoreline.

"At 31-3 we were staring at a landslide, but I have to give credit to the guys for digging in and hitting back,'' he said. "We were staring down the barrel of a gun.''

Delighted Shoguns chief Dean Ryan savoured his side's second-ever league triumph over their rivals, saying: "Beating Bath is about enjoying the moment.

"We didn't let them have any avenues and gave them a bit of a pounding and got our benefits from that.''