BACK-ROW forward Marco Mama insists Worcester Warriors don’t need to hit the panic button after their European Challenge Cup exit.

Warriors travel to France to face La Rochelle on Friday (6.30pm) after Saturday’s dismal 22-15 home defeat against Zebre ended their slim hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Mama, who is on loan from Bristol, says Worcester’s players are their own harshest critics.

“We have been pretty tough on ourselves throughout the season,” said the 24-year-old.

“I don’t think it’s going to come to a head and we are going to panic and start chucking harsh words around.

“I don’t think that would achieve anything.

“We are challenging ourselves every week and we have got a reputation of being the “almost” side and we have been trying to burn that off but we haven’t been able to so far.”

Warriors were guilty of too many handling errors and poor discipline against Zebre as they slipped to a fourth European defeat in five matches.

Flanker Huw Taylor and second row Darren O’Shea were both yellow-carded for Worcester, along with two Zebre players.

“I don’t know what the penalty count was but I imagine it was pretty high,” said Mama.

“I can’t ever remember being in a game with such a high amount of penalties.

“I don’t think Zebre tested our defence much and that was pretty much because within two or three phases they won a penalty and were kicking for the corner or kicking at goal.

“It’s a shame because we had a young group of guys, a lot of guys who hadn’t had too much game-time.

“They got their chance and they were so enthusiastic about things that they overplayed at times and that’s probably down a lack of experience as well.”

Mama thought the dry conditions allowed Warriors to throw the ball around at times but they found it hard at the set-piece against the Italians.

“We got into our stride at times but we then shot ourselves in the foot with a lack of discipline,” said Mama.

“Zebre have got some pretty big, strong boys and they have a strong tight five and some athletic back rows who are hard running and pragmatic about things.

“It was always going to be a challenge for us upfront and they definitely had the dominance there.

“It was good experience for some of our young lads but we have to be stronger in that department if we want to compete.”

Warriors’ are joint bottom of pool four and their last victory at first-team level was a 19-3 victory against La Rochelle at Sixways on November 14.

“As much as it’s now a dead-rubber game, it’s an opportunity for some of the young players to step up and try to work their way into the Premiership team,” said Mama.

“It will be a tough game at La Rochelle and then we have got a big month-and-a-half coming up in the Premiership with a couple of home games which we will really target.

“Hopefully, we will start progressing up the Premiership table and that’s going to be the real challenge for us.”