Everard keen to 'take the shackles off' Worcester

Matt Everard was appointed Worcester Warriors head coach in July

Worcester Warriors head coach Matt Everard says he is trying to get his squad to "take the shackles off" a bit more in preparation for Friday's Champ game against Ampthill at Sixways.

Warriors were beaten for the first time since their return to the sport after administration against Hartpury in their second match of the new season 28-25.

After the game, Everard said he felt his side, who had led 17-8 at one point, looked a little "jittery" at times and highlighted their penalty count which ultimately cost them the match.

"We had a lead and our discipline started to creak a little bit," Everard told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"It leads to either points or territory and they kicked several threes [penalties] which put scoreboard pressure on us.

"We gave away 10 penalties, which is the most we've given away across pre-season and the Coventry game [first game of the season] so it's something we need to redial in on."

Given all the publicity around the club's return after nearly three years away and their opening-round 29-19 win over Coventry, Everard is aware expectation among Warriors' fans will be high this season.

He said the squad were "desperate to do well" and make the club and fans "proud" and said the pressure of trying to do that could have an effect.

"It's hard to put your finger on where the tension comes from but you can sometimes see it in the way you play so that's my responsibility," he said.

"We need to try to design the game the way we want to play it. We put the [Hartpury] game in a position that made it tight and tense.

"There was no question at any point over the players' effort, it was more that we played with a bit of tension and tightness.

"It's my job to try to take the shackles off a little bit and let the players enjoy expressing themselves."

Worcester beat Ampthill 54-12 in their first pre-season game ahead of the start of the new Champ campaign