Steve Meehan admits it will take "a really good effort" for Bath to reach the Heineken Cup quarter-finals following their shattering defeat against French giants Stade Francais.

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Julien Dupuy returned to haunt Bath's European hopes for the second campaign in a row as Stade stole a dramatic 29-27 Recreation Ground victory. The scrum-half's seventh penalty a minute from time condemned Bath to their second successive Pool 4 defeat.

"We are going to have to play very well in our remaining four games and hope other results go our way," admitted Bath head coach Meehan (pictured). "It is going to take a really good effort."

Bath led 21-9 just before half-time following tries by fly-half Nicky Little, who scored 22 points, and centre Matt Carraro, but Dupuy's penalty haul, a Lionel Beauxis drop-goal and late touchdown by England sevens star Ollie Phillips saw Stade edge it.

Meehan added: "I won't be too hard on the players. It is obviously very disappointing for all of the guys.

"Unfortunately, we were penalised a couple of times too often, and perhaps we went away a little from how we played in the first half.

"But we played a much better brand of rugby than we did against Ulster last week, and we will continue to try to develop that."