BRISTOL boss Mark Tainton is resigned to relegation after the west country club were confirmed as finishing last in this season's Aviva Premiership.

Bristol are 12 points behind 11th-placed Worcester with just two games left.

And the only way they can now survive in English rugby's top flight is if the eventual Championship title winners do not meet Premiership entry criteria and are therefore not promoted.

But such an improbable escape route appears blocked off, given either London Irish or Yorkshire Carnegie are expected to win that division next month and secure Premiership status.

And head coach Tainton knows the game is effectively up after just one season back in the Premiership following a seven-year absence.

"Obviously, we are disappointed, getting relegated today," said Tainton, following Premiership leaders Wasps' 36-21 triumph at Ashton Gate.

"It was a similar story today to a lot of games we've played. We were in the opposition 22 many times, but we have just not executed and got across the line. It's as simple as that.

"That is the level we need to get to. When we've got the ball, we need to be more accurate and more clinical.

"We've put a plan in place, whether we were going to stay in the Premiership or get relegated.

"We have recruited strongly over the season to make sure we are in a stronger position for next year, whichever league we were in, and we still have one or two people to come in and strengthen the squad further.

"We are going to be playing in the Championship. It's disappointing. Bristol know more than most what a difficult league it is, but hopefully we can bounce back very quickly.

"Obviously, we would rather be in the Premiership playing, but we are not going to be. We will prepare for every game next season as if we are in the Premiership, and hopefully get back up as fast as possible.

"We were second best at the breakdown today, and then we were on the back foot, but the experience the young players will get from this season is immeasurable."

Bristol's 17th defeat from 20 league starts this term followed a familiar pattern - plenty of endeavour and strong approach work, but ultimately being punished for lacking real quality in attack.

Wing Josh Bassett, hooker Tommy Taylor and scrum-half Joe Simpson scored first-half tries for Wasps - Jimmy Gopperth kicked three conversions - before wing Christian Wade and flanker Guy Thompson struck during the third quarter to leave Bristol floundering.

Bassett's second try rubbed salt into Bristol wounds, with the home side contributing an early Jason Woodward touchdown and late scores by Jack O'Connell and Nick Fenton-Wells, with centre Gavin Henson kicking one conversion and fly-half Billy Searle two.