Bristol's home form an 'annoyance' - boss Lam

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Bristol have lost their past three Premiership matches at Ashton Gate, stretching back to last season

Bristol's home form is an "annoyance", director of rugby Pat Lam has admitted as the club looks to end its Ashton Gate win drought against Northampton on Friday.

The Bears have won their three away games so far this season but lost both of their home matches, by three points to Gloucester and two points to Saracens.

Their last home Premiership win was against Newcastle on 21 April.

"We desperately want a win at home - we've had five games, three away, but with the two at home we haven't quite nailed [it]," Lam told 大象传媒 Radio Bristol.

"We've lost both in the last minute of the game really so we're determined to be better than we have been to ensure we get a victory at home that's for us and our supporters."

Bristol play reigning champions Saints, who are one position and five points behind the Bears in fifth, in their final match before the international break.

Lam said the form was not a concern but "probably annoyance" due to the fine margins in both losses.

"The penalties [against us] to actually lose the game at the end weren't necessarily the right calls - we know we could be sitting here with 25 points but we're not," Lam said.

"But we're doing so much right. We're in the top four, we're averaging just under four [league] points a game. We have a great opportunity to finish this block well and [be] truly locked in the top four before we take a break."

While the Bears have Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Steven Luatua back in contention for the Saints match, they will be without lock Josh Caulfield for the foreseeable future.

The second row went off in the Saracens defeat with a pectoral muscle injury, which requires surgery.

"I think it's about three months with Josh so our second row have taken a hit with Steele Barker, George Taylor and now Josh taking long-term injuries," Lam said.

"The recruitment team are busy on it at the moment, I think certainly losing three for long-term has just put a strain on us. At the moment we've got coverage there with James Dun and Joe Batley but the two of them have put a lot of work in."