LAST-gasp defeats are nothing new for Worcester Warriors.

There were a number of occasions during the Richard Hill regime when winning positions were squandered with time almost up — defeats to Bath and Gloucester in the 2012-13 season immediately spring to mind.

Dean Ryan arrived at the beginning of last season yet seeing games out still proved tricky, most notably the 13-11 home loss against Wasps in March when Andy Goode came back to haunt his former employers.

They were also ahead against Harlequins and Leicester Tigers in the second half of the campaign but ended up losing by single points. Top-class opposition, perhaps, but games in which Warriors still held the lead.

Now we can add Bristol to the list of games from which Worcester have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. A new season but the same outcome.

It begs the question - are these coincidences or is there something more deep-rooted in the Warriors psyche?

Logic says that with a change in coach and personnel over time, it has to be coincidence, but it still seems to be happening far too often for comfort.

Whatever the answer, it isn’t helping Worcester and must be of serious frustration for their long-suffering fans.

By all accounts, Ryan’s side gave a good account of themselves at Ashton Gate but failed to take their chances.

There were positives to take and they should improve during the course of the season, hopefully meaning that games don’t go down to the wire in the first place.

But, when they do, Warriors need to be on the right end of the result.