Toby Booth urges London Irish Heineken Cup response

Booth's side were beaten by a point at the weekend

London Irish coach Toby Booth admits his side need to go Cardiff Blues and come back with at least a point after their losing start to the Heineken Cup.

The Exiles travel to Cardiff on 18 November having lost 20-19 to Edinburgh at the Madjeski Stadium on Saturday.

Booth is aware of the importance of winning homes games in the competition so his side now need to make up for the defeat at the Cardiff City stadium.

"We have to go to Cardiff and get something," Booth told BBC Berkshire.

Edinburgh produced a superb second-half performance to overhaul a nine-point deficit and claim an away victory.

Booth added that the only benefit of defeat was that it came early on in the competition.

"I guess the only consolation is that this defeat has happened in game one," he told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"From that point of view we have five games to put it right."

The Blues themselves got off to a winning start beating Racing Metro in Paris at the weekend.

And Booth admits his side have a hard task on Friday.

"Cardiff is going to be tough because of the calibre of their squad. We've got some young players and we looked a bit young on Saturday in certain areas such as decision making and composure."

He added: "This was the first time in the Heineken Cup for a few players but we will be better for the experience and we will need to be because Cardiff are a very good side."