Paul Gustard gave a scathing assessment of Harlequins’ 20-13 loss to Bristol Bears as his side were downed for a third game in succession.

The new Quins director of rugby, who relinquished his role as England’s defence coach to take the job at Twickenham Stoop, lamented his side’s lack of discipline for the loss to the Premiership newcomers.

“We didn’t play the conditions very well and sometimes in weather like this you are better without the ball,” the 42-year-old said.

“We started the game really well with ten points away from home, but we did the wrong things. We lost the ball and allowed Bristol to get back into the game.

“In the first 30-40 minutes we gave away a lot of penalties and again 13 penalties to their six is not good enough.

“We had control of the game and we gave it away.”

Gustard’s men slipped to their first defeat to Bristol since 2006 despite Quins making an electric start after Danny Care’s seventh-minute try.

A James Lang penalty put Quins 10-0 up before Piers O’Conor struck back shortly before the break. Ian Madigan sealed the win for the Bears with an ice-cool kicking performance.

But Gustard says his staff and players are working to turn around their fortune ahead of their visit to Gloucester Rugby on Saturday.

“Chris Robshaw just gave a very heartfelt speech in the dressing room just now and the boys are hurting,” added the Quins director of rugby.

“We know they let themselves down, but as a coaching group we have promised to do things differently.

“We are trying to find a way to get a different response because we are hampering ourselves and our ability to win rugby matches.

“I am gutted. We had a good performance against Sale, some good performances against Northampton, the first 20 and the last 20 against Bath was decent and in the last two games the middle 40 minutes has hurt us.

“It’s frustrating and I am gutted because I expect high things of this team and they expect high things of themselves.”