Bath coach Jon Callard vowed on Saturday to tough it out after watching his team suffer a club record league defeat.

Bath slumped to their fourth successive Premiership loss, crashing 48-9 against Leicester at Welford Road to leave them in bottom place.

To compound Bath's misery, they had prop John Mallett sent off for a second yellow card offence in the 49th minute, although Leicester were already home and dry by that stage, leading 34-9.

Saturday's loss surpassed Bath's previous worst in league rugby - a 50-23 reversal against Saracens four years ago, but Callard tonight stood defiant.

"I would be lying if I said that this didn't hurt. It affects me badly and it affects my family," he said.

"But this is when you test your character and your mettle - I have got no intentions of walking away.

"I will back these players to the hilt. We are all in this together, and hopefully we can start to turn things round."

Bath could have England star Mike Catt back from injury for next Saturday's daunting Heineken Cup opener against Biarritz in France, but centre Mark Tindall looks like missing out after suffering a succession of knocks today.

"You can imagine the feeling of dejection among the players at present, and my response to that is that we start looking to go forward. There is an abundance of talent out there, we just need to have confidence and conviction in what we are doing."

Callard described Mallett's first yellow card, given by referee Brian Campsall for brawling with Leicester prop Darren Garforth, as "pathetic".

"They are 18 stone forwards, and if they can't have a little tiff without being sent to the sin-bin, then it is ludicrous," Callard added.

Leicester gave first Premiership starts of the season to England captain Martin Johnson and his fellow Lion Austin Healey, while both Neil Back and Martin Corry would also both have played had it not been for illness and injury respectively.

Tigers full-back Tim Stimpson finished the game with 28 points, scoring Leicester's fifth and final try, while Healey, fly-half Andy Goode, flanker Lewis Moody and wing Steve Booth also touched down. Olly Barkley kicked three Bath penalties.

"We had to work very hard for it - it was a fast game and contested in all areas," said Leicester boss Dean Richards.

"We've conceded just one try in four games so far this season, and scored 17, so I am happy with that."