Depleted Bears' win 'one of my highlights' - Lam

Pat Lam saw Sam Worsley's last-gasp penalty seal Bristol's second Prem win of the season

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam says he is "so proud" of his severely depleted squad after their 18-14 comeback win over Exeter Chiefs in the Prem.

Lam started Saturday's game without first-choice half-backs AJ MacGinty and Harry Randall, last season's top try-scorer Gabriel Ibitoye and new signing Louis Rees-Zammit.

Josh Carrington and Jack Bates also departed prematurely at Ashton Gate with apparent head knocks.

"With all the backs that are out, we couldn't even train properly for most of the week," Lam told BBC Radio Bristol, having seen his side trail 14-8 at half-time after Tom Jordan received a 20-minute red card.

"Then we lost Josh Carrington - another back - early, and Jack Bates. Tom Jordan got sent off, we had three number nines on the pitch.

"Talk about real fight from this group - real Bears character. We talked at half-time about what we needed to do in the next 10 minutes [after Jordan's red card] and the boys executed it so well.

"That is probably one of the highlights of my time here. That was just such absolute guts."

Lam, who joined Bristol as head coach in 2017, saw his side win for the third time in four matches in all competitions following a 50-17 league defeat at Saracens on 4 October.

"We were pretty embarrassed because we lacked cohesion and there were lots of people in different positions," the 57-year-old said of that performance.

"The number one thing we talked about was our collisions and our fights. The group had question marks [over them] but we galvanised and brought it home.

"The forward pack really challenged themselves to step up. They said to the backs 'don't worry - we'll give you the platform'."

Lam said the Bears have "got to take a look" at their escalating injury list as the fifth-placed side prepare to visit Gloucester, who are ninth, on Friday (19:45 BST).

"There's lots we're going to have to do," added Lam. "We've got a short turnaround to go up there on their artificial pitch."