Neil Brew has urged Bristol to start racking up the points if the club are to avoid the drop from the Guinness Premiership in their remaining nine matches.

As their lowly position suggests, the team have both the worst attack and defence in the English elite – they average less than 12 points per league game.

Bristol have notched 149 points in their 13 league matches this term, while Worcester, one place above the basement outfit, have broken the 200-point barrier from one game fewer.

And, if their points-scoring record was not bad enough, the strugglers visit third-placed Sale Sharks tonight at Edgeley Park – who have the meanest defence in the Premiership after conceding only 188 points.

Brew said: "We have not won games because we have not been scoring enough points. That's pretty much self-explanatory. We need to score more tries.

"Looking at the games we have lost, we haven't scored because we lose possession by turning the ball over or make basic errors. We have to work hard, eliminate those mistakes, keep hold of the ball and build some phases."

Following the 35-3 defeat to Newcastle last Friday, which virtually ended the club's survival chances, Hill has wielded the axe and jettisoned fly-half Ed Barnes and centre Nathan Brew.

In comes, Adrian Jarvis – the club's major signing last summer, who has failed to live up to his fine reputation – and current England Under-20 centre Luke Eves.

Former New Zealand Maori international Neil Brew hopes the pair will give Bristol some bite in the final third of the field at the Sharks.

He added: "Both Adrian and Luke are good attacking players. Those guys offer a lot to the squad. They have the opportunity this week, so hopefully they will take it."

Although their chances of survival look bleak, Brew insists, much like the rest of the Bristol squad, that the club can still avoid the drop.

And that's despite a very difficult run-in that includes trips to top five sides Sale, Bath, Leicester and London Irish, plus former Heineken Cup champions Wasps.

Bristol will target the home game with Worcester on March 29 for a victory and might fancy their chances against Harlequins, Wasps, and Leicester.

Kiwi Brew added: "We have nine games left. We can still pick up points. Our mindset and attitude is that we will continue to keep trying hard and get some wins.

"Facing Sale away is a big challenge. They are always pretty strong at home and they have a good team. The challenge for us is to go up there, get some points and do our best.

"Newcastle was very disappointing. We don't like to lose, but to lose by that much at home is heartbreaking."