DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan felt some Worcester Warriors players let themselves down in Saturday’s 29-8 win against bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Albion.

Ryan thought only Charlie Mulchrone, Andy Symons and debutant Sam Lewis stood out as Worcester hit back from an 8-7 deficit to secure a 23rd successive triumph.

But Warriors were dealt a double pre-match blow with newcomer Cooper Vuna and in-form fly-half Ryan Mills ruled out through injury.

Replacement fly-half Ignacio Mieres had a poor afternoon as Warriors struggled to build momentum until Albion were reduced to 14 men.

Warriors have returned to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship but skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze and Mike Williams were yellow-carded late on and it was a far from convincing performance from Worcester.

“Sometimes you have to look at who can influence a game and who can’t,” admitted Ryan.

“When you lose your 10 and your new strike-runner, which a lot of things were built around, it changed the dynamics of everything and it just made us a little bit clunky.

“The first half-an-hour wasn’t great and we are not hiding from that.

“We should have scored two or three times in the first-half but it wasn’t through creation, it was just through individuals.

“I think it tells us a lot, which we probably already knew about, but we are not going to be jumping around much between now and the play-offs.”

Mulchrone grabbed Warriors’ first try with Chris Pennell, Max Stelling and Ben Howard also crossing the whitewash for the hosts.

Symons was responsible for the kicks at goal and he slotted three conversions and a late penalty.

“I think there were about 25 chances to take the game by the scruff of the neck so when someone gets a yellow card it always creates opportunities,” said Ryan.

“We didn’t look very clinical as a backline and we struggled with a defence that came at us quite hard and we didn’t find the holes that were in front of us.

“Mulchrone and Symons were outstanding and Lewis looked really sharp across the ground but we didn’t get enough continuity to see what he brings with his skills set.

“They were probably the three people who really stood out and it’s a bit worrying that some others didn’t take their opportunities because they are running out.

“We have been pretty open about when we will start streaming the side towards that play-off side and it will soon become pretty apparent.”

Warriors are next in action on Friday night against Leinster ‘A’ at Sixways in the semi-finals of the British and Irish Cup.

Ryan is expected to keep faith with the fringe players who have taken the club within a win of the final.

“I don’t think the focus of the British and Irish Cup has changed for us,” added Ryan.

“It has always been about creating opportunities.

“There are a group of players who have predominantly taken their opportunities through that competition and we will support them and see where that goes.

“The cup is an opportunity for players to showcase their skills to try to get into our side for the Championship.”