Rob Baxter: Exeter Chiefs not giving up on European Champions Cup

Ulster celebrate
Ulster celebrate their last-minute win over Exeter in the Champions Cup

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says his side will not give up trying to reach the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.

The Chiefs narrowly lost to Ulster on Saturday, having been heavily beaten by Clermont Auvergne in their opening match seven days earlier.

"It's going to be tough, but we're certainly not going to give up on it," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.

"We're certainly going to show character and we're certainly going to show fight," he added.

"We did that all last season and we ended up in a European quarter-final and I'm not going to expect anything different from the players again."

The Chiefs have just one point from their opening two games and are nine points of Clermont, who have recorded bonus-point victories in both of their games.

"We can still get a good collection of points," said Baxter.

"We're going to have to do exceptionally well to get them, to go to Bordeaux and go to Clermont and get results is going to be very difficult, as will getting a result against Ulster at our place."

Exeter. who made last season's Premiership final, have not won any of their last four games.

But Baxter says the performance against Ulster, which saw them lose 19-18 after Paddy Jackson kicked a last-minute drop goal for the home side, was much improved.

He said: "I do expect them to draw a line under some of the poorer performances we've put together this season and say that we're prepared to commit that much effort and energy to every game we play now.

"I'd like to think this is a bit of a kick-start for the rest of our season.

"That's what we've got to say to the guys: 'If you can play like that, you can play like that next Sunday against Bath."