Head coach Rob Baxter has admitted that Exeter Chiefs' were made to pay for their slow start during their LV= Cup defeat to Bath on Sunday.
The Devon outfit found themselves 12-0 down inside the opening five minutes at the Recreation Ground as they went on to lose 37-15 and continue their record of failing to beat Bath since returning to the Aviva Premiership.
"We were uncharacteristically slow out of the blocks," Baxter told the press.
"We lost momentum in that crucial first quarter and found ourselves in a position that was very difficult to get out of.
"It meant that other good areas of our play, when we did control the ball, didn't count for much. We missed too many one-on-one tackles; we couldn't slow their ball and didn't form a defensive line."
The final of the competition is played at Exeter's Sandy Park in March.
