Absence of Butch is costing Bath Rugby

Steve Meehan admits Bath are badly missing Butch James – but the defiant head coach is confident his side will start turning narrow defeats into victories before too long.

Meehan saw his team slide to a 12-11 defeat at home to Guinness Premiership leaders Saracens on Saturday – their fifth straight loss in all competitions.

It is Bath's worst run since March and April 2002, when they lost five in a row en route to finishing one place off the bottom of the table.

And while they currently occupy the same position in the table, Meehan is convinced his injury-hit squad will hit form soon. Bath have been without the injured James, Olly Barkley and Daniel Browne all season, while Nick Abendanon, Joe Maddock and Lee Mears also missed Saturday's defeat through injury.

Meehan was also without England trio Duncan Bell, David Wilson and Matt Banahan, plus the suspended Andy Beattie.

And he admitted the absence of World Cup winner James in particular is hurting his squad.

"When you've got a player of Butch's talents not available, it's certainly going to have an impact on your team," said Meehan.

"While I think Ryan Davis did a good job on Saturday and Nicky Little has at various times over the last two months, the other guys were pretty comfortable with Butch. We're really missing one or two players, but if we keep working at it, the talent is there."

Saturday's defeat extended Bath's worst run of form during Meehan's reign, but the head coach has ruled out making wholesale changes – on the grounds that he does not have a deep enough squad. He added: "Wholesale changes will come as more guys become available, but not as a result of this match itself."