LET'S get a few things straight. I desperately hate losing and anyone who knows me will testify to that.

However, I've always believed that, if you are successful, you need to have the good grace to compliment the opposition for their part in the match. It takes two to tango.

After hearing Rob Andrew's post-match comments, I'm not sure he'd know how to spell humility.

I couldn't quite believe what he said after our defeat to Newcastle on Sunday but I guess his motivation was very much media orientated. Rob likes his headlines.

I've always thought you should look after your own back yard first, rather than trying to talk down the opposition.

He could have shown some respect to what is, after all, a newly promoted team and admitted we made his team look ordinary for periods of the match. The fact that he didn't showed a total lack of grace.

It was a disappointing end to a day where I came away from Sixways feeling like we'd missed our chance somewhat. Sunday, having watched the game again and again, was a wonderful occasion for the club but the result was hardly awe-inspiring. I fully accept that but, if you analyse the match, we had our chances and, with a bit more fortune, the result could have been much closer.

We're not making excuses. We're not hiding behind anything -- although numerous refereeing decisions didn't go our way and many should have -- and we accept we have to improve if we are to make our mark in the Premiership. Forgive the pun but that's a no-brainer.

Our scrum didn't go well, our penalty count was too high in the first half while our execution and our finishing wasn't up to scratch. We recognise all of that but the most important thing for us is to improve week in, week out. What I also look back on, however, is the fact that we dominated the game in the opening 20 minutes.

Whatever Andrew says, we had them on the back foot early on and Newcastle -- a team who should be competing for the Premiership title this season with the calibre of players they have -- looked ragged with Joe Shaw and Tom May both uncomfortable with the high ball.

The crowd were loud, we were 6-0 up and we had chances to increase the lead but small margins are the difference between winning and losing at this level and we never really played after the initial 30 minutes.

We move on, though, and this week has been all about our impending trip to Saracens. It's another chance for us, another opportunity for Worcester as we line up against one of the most expensive outfits in the Premiership. After their fine victory over Wasps on Saturday, people will already be tipping the Vicarage Road side to push for a Heineken Cup spot this season and certainly they'll be looking to make it two wins out of two.

However, we're really looking forward to the game.

These is the type of match which reminds you why you were so desperate to get into the Premiership. It will be a perfect occasion for us to go there, under absolutely no pressure, and cause an upset.

They've got a big, powerful pack and that will be a test for us but it's something that we're certainly not going to shy away from. It's a great challenge for our boys but we believe in ourselves and our team spirit here at Sixways is as good as you'll find anywhere in the land.

We had a solid 30 minutes against Newcastle and, for us, the priority is to stretch that to at least an hour. These Worcester boys are desperate to show everyone that we are here to stay. People always say beware of a wounded animal. Well, these Warriors aim to come out fighting on Sunday.