HEAD coach Carl Hogg admits it will be difficult for Worcester Warriors to progress to the European Challenge Cup knockout stages after their comprehensive 34-22 defeat against Gloucester.

Warriors are third in pool four after two defeats from three matches and face difficult away trips to Gloucester and French club La Rochelle.

Only the five pool winners and the three best-placed runners-up will make it through to the quarter-finals.

Worcester travel to Kingsholm to face Gloucester in the return fixture next Thursday (7.45pm).

“It’s going to be very difficult now to progress but we get an opportunity to go back to back against Gloucester and it’s an opportunity to restore a bit of pride," said Hogg.

Gloucester dominated large periods of the first half at Sixways but Worcester were level at 10-10 at the break after a try from Dean Hammond and a conversion and drop goal from Ryan Lamb.

But the floodgates opened in the second period with Gloucester pinning Worcester inside their half for long periods.

Henry Purdy, who scored a try in the first half, crossed for his second try, while Rob Cook, Steve McColl and Billy Twelvetrees all touched down for the Cherry and Whites.

Mike Daniels and Darren O’Shea were driven over for Warriors but Gloucester were worthy winners.

Hogg said: The endeavour from the group was outstanding but I thought we asked ourselves to defend for too long a period of time especially in the first 60 minutes.

"We spent a long time inside our own 22 and we have to look at how we manage the game if we are sit in there for such a length of time.

“We have got to be smarter about where we play the game. We have to look at our error-rate and execution in and around half-way that leads us to sitting inside the 22.

“Gloucester’s nine and 10 did very well. They kicked in behind us and put us under pressure and sometimes a very simple game can be productive.

“Some of the best sides in the world are very pragmatic in their own half and we have to look at the balance between ambition and how much we want to play and also balance that comes with being pragmatic and shifting the game inside the opposition’s 22 and applying pressure on them.”

Gloucester's director of rugby David Humphreys said: “I am always pleased to come away with any away victory with five points.

“In the first half it was tough but, despite a couple of mistakes, we controlled the game and Worcester made a lot of tackles.

“You know that if a team has to defend a lot then gaps start to appear in the second half and we took the opportunities we created. It was a good performance.”