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European Champions Cup: Ford hails Bath's achievement after reaching the quarter-finals

Bath Rugby head coach Mike Ford before the Aviva Premiership match at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester.
Image: Mike Ford: Bath finish top of Pool Four.

Bath boss Mike Ford hailed his side’s historic achievement in becoming the first team in European Cup history to lose its first two group games and reach the last eight.

Bath defeated Glasgow 20-15 which meant they finished top of Pool Four after European champions Toulouse lost 27-26 against Montpellier.

Glasgow scored tries through Alex Dunbar and Richie Vernon, while Finn Russell kicked a conversion and penalty.

George Ford booted two penalties and a conversion for Bath, while Ollie Devoto added a conversion to seal victory.

And the Bath coach said his side had to grind out victory in stark contrast to their flamboyant 35-18 success in Toulouse last weekend.

He said: "In October, we lost our first two games, and now we are pool winners.

“It's a great achievement, especially when you have got the likes of Montpellier and Toulouse in your group.

"We didn't play as best we can, but we found a way to win. Our forwards were very dominant.”

He added: "Last week (against Toulouse) you saw the dash. This week, you saw the grunt."

There was an injury concern for Bath when their England centre Kyle Eastmond went off during the opening minutes.

He is expected to have a scan in the next couple of days after reporting for England duty, and Ford is optimistic it is a minor knock.

"Kyle came off last week with a shoulder (injury), and he's just taken another knock," Ford added.

"He says he is fine, and we don't think it is too bad.

“The doctor was pretty adamant that he had to come off, and it was the right thing to do."