Bath boss Michael Foley tonight admitted that his team's 33-11 defeat against fellow Zurich Premiership strugglers Saracens had been "a reality check".

Bath were left just one point above bottom club Leeds with just six games to go, after they collapsed in alarming fashion in the second half.

Saracens led just 9-6 at the interval, but then destroyed their opponents at Vicarage Road with three tries in 12 minutes from scrum-half Kyran Bracken, flanker Kris Chesney and wing Gerald Arasa.

Bath had no answer, and a consolation 77th-minute try from their England centre Mike Tindall could not lift the gloom.

"We were never in the running in that game - this has been a real reality check for everyone," said Australian World Cup star Foley, now in charge following Jon Callard's departure as head coach earlier this month.

"We have won games this season based on the performances of individual players, but now that we have suffered injuries to some key people, the depth of our squad is not strong enough.

"I am not embarrassed for the players, I will stand by them. I won't defend the mistakes they made today, but I will support their endeavours to get better.

"There is a very tough road ahead for us, but we have to resist any external pressures and establish some basics in our game and not rely on individuals like Mike Catt or Kevin Maggs to pull us through.

"I wish there were easy answers, but I know that there is a lack of confidence in the team.

"Some guys in our side play with a lack of confidence, and when the pressure comes on we make mistakes," added Foley.

"I want to see the players walking off the pitch with their heads held high - we won't put in a performance like that again."

Watching England boss Clive Woodward witnessed a desperately disappointing game, although he would have watched with interest a first half dust up between England colleagues Richard Hill and Danny Grewcock.

Centre Kevin Sorrell, entrusted with the goal-kicking by Saracens' caretaker-coach Tim Horan, booted 15 points and fly-half Horan dropped a 57th-minute goal.

Like Bath, Saracens are also in the market for a new rugby director following Francois Pienaar's exit, and they could shortly be in a position to reveal the new man's identity.

"We would hope to make an announcement about a new coach this week - I am hoping that we can put the situation to bed," said Saracens' chief executive Peter Deakin.