ANDY Keast remained positive about Worcester Rugby Club's season despite the 50-7 drubbing.

The Sixways head coach always thought the game would be a tough one against one of the best teams in Europe and so it proved.

"We have to be positive," he said.

"We're not going to give up and there's a great spirit in the camp. We always thought that Saturday's game against London Irish was a vital one for us and I don't think anybody thought we would come to Welford Road and win.

"They are the form side in Europe at the moment and you have to give them enormous credit.

"We worked hard and kept them down to one try up until 39 minutes.

"After that, they were awarded a penalty try and went on to score another two before half-time. It was game over from then on.

"I was pleased with our defence during the first-half but we will regroup and come back fighting for the Irish clash on Saturday. We remain confident."

Keast was not worried about Northampton's 22-21 victory at Irish which saw the Saints end their dreadful run and leapfrog Worcester.

"I'm not interested in Northampton," added Keast.

"We can't do anything about what happened outside of Welford Road today. What we could do is play against Leicester.

"We came here under no illusions. We have to put it into perspective. We're a club in an embryonic stage. We have come into a new league and Leicester are everybody's favourites to win that league. We've just got to keep working hard. I thought our defence in the first-half was encouraging. That showed the work ethic of our squad. They never gave up and they won't do that.

"This game was not one of our goals and I don't think it's many people's goals when they come to Welford Road. However, Saturday -- against London Irish --is one of our goals and it's an important match for us.

"Leicester are a quality side and there's always the potential to get a hiding at Welford Road in result terms. I don't think that, in performance terms, it was a hiding though."