SALE Sharks, Newcastle Falcons and London Irish. Three teams you would circle on the fixture list when looking for potential Warriors’ home wins this term.

However, this plucky triumvirate have all rocked up at Sixways, possibly more in hope than expectation, before heading off home with a victory tucked in their back pockets.

Concerning, no doubt, for all involved with Worcester, but one thing seems to be a recurring theme – other than the dubious performances of the hosts.

Firstly Dean Richards and, most recently, Steve Diamond have both said post-match, with unwavering conviction, that Warriors will be more than good enough to avoid the Aviva Premiership drop this term.

Now, there’s too ways of looking at that. Are they idle platitudes from directors of rugby who have just been extended the most generous of Sixways match-day hospitality? Or, are they intelligent rugby men who can see beyond Worcester’s current travails and appreciate that Dean Ryan is moving them in the right direction, albeit slowly.

It would be very easy to assume the former to be correct, but Diamond’s post-match comments make for interesting reading – particularly when set against the back drop of how poorly Sale did under his guidance initially last season and, more importantly, how much improved as a side they are now.

The Sharks boss said: “We’d lost all of our games up to this point last year, so I feel for Worcester, but it has to be one club who goes through that and they’re there at the moment, but no doubt they’ll get out of it – I’m sure they will.

“What does it take to get out of it? You have to go back to the basics and get the squad playing for you. That was the main thing I did at Christmas time last year.

“We all sat down and I invited them to have a say on how we played, so it was more direct, they knew the game plan and stuck to it. All we did was give them pointers and I think that is obviously what Dean Ryan is doing.”

Meanwhile, the weather on Saturday summed up Warriors’ season so far pretty neatly. Before the rugby started, the outlook was sunny and bright but, as soon as the team took to the field, the storm clouds gathered and Worcester were swamped by a deluge.

The only thing blacker than the sky over Sixways during half-time would have been the mood inside the home dressing room, but the silver lining emerged after the interval in the shape of Agustin Creevy.

Building upon a lively opening by his compatriot Mariano Galarza – yellow card aside – the barnstorming hooker announced his Worcester arrival in a flurry of powerful carries and trademark classy off-loads.

Creevy oozed Test class in his cameo performance, so much so he was my man-of-the-match despite only playing 39 minutes.

Fresh from testing themselves against the likes of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in the Rugby Championship, these two, plus Leo Senatore when his ban expires, will add a great deal to Warriors’ squad.

Hopefully, they can have an uplifting impact on their struggling team-mates.