WORCESTER Warriors are facing a battle for their Aviva Premiership survival after a desperately disappointing 20-13 defeat against fellow strugglers London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

Dean Ryan’s men picked up a losing bonus point from the bottom-of-the-table battle, which could prove important in the end-of-season standings.

But Warriors were woeful in the opening 40 minutes and the Sixways players and fans know they are now firmly locked in a relegation battle with Irish and Newcastle Falcons.

It was Warriors’ biggest game of the season and their lack of cohesion and intensity in the first half will be a major concern.

Warriors trailed 10-3 at the interval but Irish should have been further ahead.

Second-half tries from wing Bryce Heem and replacement prop Val Rapava Ruskin gave Worcester hope.

But Warriors’ search for a Premiership away win continues and they have now picked up just two victories from their last 34 trips in the top tier.

Worcester paid the price for ill-discipline and conceding too many penalties at the breakdown with Heem and Donncha O’Callaghan yellow-carded by referee Wayne Barnes.

Irish fly-half Shane Geraghty, who bossed the opening 40 minutes, finished with a 10-point haul and was a stand-out performer for the home side.

They have won their last three home matches in the Premiership with Warriors sliding to their 12th successive defeat in all competitions.

Warriors made a surprise late change with Ryan Lamb coming into the starting line-up for Tom Heathcote but the former Exiles fly-half was hauled off at the break.

Geraghty screwed an early penalty wide for Irish after Niall Annett was penalised at the breakdown.

Warriors had another escape soon afterwards when Jebb Sinclair broke through but Irish were pinged for holding on.

Irish took a deserved lead in the 17th minute after Chris Pennell raced downfield but had the ball stripped in the tackle.

The ball was shipped to centre Ciaran Hearn, who chipped over a static Warriors defence and collected to run straight under the posts. Geraghty converted.

Warriors got on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute after Irish were caught offside and Ryan Mills struck from distance.

Irish were playing most of the rugby and Worcester needed a try-saving tackle from Heem on Topsy Ojo to prevent the hosts from increasing the lead.

But Heem was harshly yellow-carded moments later and Geraghty’s three-pointer fired Irish 10-3 in front.

Pennell redeemed himself to make a try-saving tackle on full-back Andrew Fenby as Irish created an overlap and looked certain to score in the corner.

From the resulting scrum, Irish won a penalty against the head and kicked to the corner but then fluffed their line-out.

Andy Symons replaced Lamb at the break but Irish’s pressure continued and Ojo had a try ruled out in the corner after a block in midfield created a gap for Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

Instead, Warriors were awarded the penalty decision on halfway and hit back to score their first try of the afternoon.

After gathering the line-out, Heem picked up an offload from Cooper Vuna to score in the corner but Symons missed the conversion.

Warriors were reduced to 14 men in the 51st minute when O’Callaghan was dispatched to the sin-bin.

Irish kept up the pressure and, after a series of close-range drives, Fenby cut through for the hosts’ second try in the 56th minute after taking a short pass from Geraghty, who kicked the conversion.

Trailing 17-8, Symons was badly off cue with a long-range penalty before Irish hooker David Paice was yellow carded.

Replacement prop Ruksin gave Worcester hope, barging his way over the try-line with 11 minutes remaining, but Symons missed the conversion.

Geraghty extended Irish’s advantage with a close-range penalty after Ruskin was pinged at the breakdown with seven minutes left to seal another away defeat for Warriors.

Make no mistake about it — Worcester are in a relegation battle.