DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons stressed the Gallagher Premiership was “a marathon, not a sprint” after Worcester Warriors lost their opening three games.

Warriors slumped to the foot of the table after they were edged out 23-20 by Newcastle Falcons at Sixways on Saturday.

It was the third time Warriors had to settle for a losing bonus point as they went down 21-15 at Sale Sharks and 21-20 to Wasps this month.

Many supporters vented their frustration on social media and on fans’ forums after Warriors’ error-strewn showing against Falcons.

But Solomons is refusing to panic as he reckons his side only need to fix “little things” to turn narrow defeats into victories.

“It is frustrating because they are three games we could have won,” Solomons said.

“We could be sitting here with 12 points but we have three and that’s the fact.

“What I keep talking about and telling the players is the margins at top-level sport are fine. We need to appreciate that and adjust accordingly.”

Warriors are the only side yet to record a win this season but just five points separate them from sixth-placed Harlequins.

“If we were beaten by 50 points in all three games then it would be a problem,” Solomons said. “But we were not.

“We lost the first game by a point, the second by six and the third by three so the line between success and failure is one of the finest that you have.

“We have got to cross that divide. Those margins are slim so it is little things you have got to fix up and suddenly a loss becomes a win and that’s where we are at the moment.

“If we were getting hammered every weekend it would be different but we are certainly not.”

Solomons continued: “The Premiership is a marathon, not a sprint.

“The other day I was watching a game and afterwards in an interview one of the players made a good comment that the Premiership was not won in September. He was 100 per cent right.”

Solomons will now look to pick his players up ahead of Warriors’ trip to Leicester Tigers on Sunday (3pm).

“Of course they are disappointed. It is terrible (to lose by three points),” Solomons said.

“But there is no question that every single player goes out there and gives absolutely everything they have.

“There is no lack of effort or endeavour. But we need to manage games better and be more accurate in our execution otherwise you pay a price.”

A 40-6 thrashing at Exeter Chiefs on the opening day of the campaign led Leicester Tigers to sack head coach Matt O’Connor.

With Geordan Murphy in charge, Tigers hit back with a 49-33 victory over Newcastle at Welford Road before losing 41-35 at Wasps last Sunday.

Solomons added: “We are playing Leicester away from home at the beginning of the season, not at the end, so their players are relatively fresh.

“They are a good side and have had a good start to the season.

“Their first game against Exeter wasn’t good but they have now hit their straps.”