DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold has warned his players not to feel “comfortable” as he believes relegation rivals Bristol can “bite” Worcester Warriors “badly”.

Warriors opened up a 10-point gap on Bristol at the foot of the Aviva Premiership table on Friday after snatching a four-try bonus point from a 36-26 defeat at Sale Sharks.

But the basement side responded on Saturday as they came within two minutes of stunning Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

A late Thomas Waldrom try clinched second-placed Chiefs a 38-34 victory, but the visitors claimed two points to reduce the deficit on Warriors to eight points.

“Categorically (eight points) is not enough as anything can happen and in sport a lot of the time things do happen,” Gold said.

“I don’t want us as a group to think that we are comfortable because that will bite us badly.”

Warriors arrived at the AJ Bell Stadium with hopes of securing a maximum point win which may have seen them climb above 10th placed Sale.

But they produced a mistake-ridden performance as the hosts ran in five tries.

And Gold said he was “frustrated” and “disappointed” with his team’s display despite Biyi Alo’s last-gasp try securing a bonus point.

“There is nothing to celebrate,” said Gold whose side were also boosted by tries from Francois Hougaard, Joe Taufete’e and Chris Pennell.

“I suppose because of our situation at the moment to come away with a point is better than not coming away with anything.

“But I am frustrated and disappointed.

“I thought we showed for long enough passages that we are a good team with ball in hand, so it is frustrating to come away with not winning the game.”

Warriors are eight points behind Sale with three games remaining and Gold insists they are in 11th position “for a reason”.

“There is a lot of stuff we can work on, obviously,” Gold said.

“We are still securely in 11th in the table and we are there for a reason. We must be honest about that.

“There have been improvements and I am really encouraged and positive about that, but as we saw on Friday playing against the 10th-placed team we were not good enough.”

Warriors take on fifth-placed Bath at Sixways on Saturday (3pm) while Bristol host leaders Wasps on Sunday (3pm).