GREGOR TOWNSEND says his Glasgow Warriors players must recover and improve from their first defeat of the season before their Euro opener this weekend.

The Scotstoun club suffered their first defeat of the season at Ravenhill on Saturday, with hosts Ulster running out 29-9 winners to take them to within a point of their Scottish rivals.

Finn Russell grabbed all the points for the visitors via penalties while Craig Gilroy and Tommy Bowe tries with five penalties and and two conversions from the boot of Ian Humphrey's was enough to bring Warriors' five-game winning streak to an end.

Next up for Glasgow is the visit of Bath this Saturday in their first European Rugby Champions Cup tie.

And head coach Townsend is now hoping to rally his troops for the clash with the Aviva Premiership cracks.

He said: "First of all, the focus will be on recovery after a lot of effort went into Saturday's game, but we're really looking forward to the new European competition.

"It's fantastic that we're getting to play at home first against one of the form teams in Europe."

Speaking about the defeat in Belfast, Townsend told the official Glasgow Warriors website: "In the first half I thought we were in their half a lot more than they were in ours and that was down to some good attacking play.

"I thought our effort in defence was superb, but we just didn't seem to get the rub of the green with the penalties and Ulster just nudged ahead.

"I did feel in the second half we were getting back into our game again and I thought we would lift it up in the last 20 minutes.

"I was pleased with a number of aspects, but there is a lot we still need to work on. It's important we finish games strong and we didn't on Saturday and Ulster got a deserved win."

Meanwhile, Glasgow centre Mark Bennett insists he is on the mend after a potentially serious neck injury in his side's defeat to Ulster.

The Scotland international received lengthy treatment on the pitch during the second half of Saturday's clash, with him eventually being stretchered off.

However, the 21-year-old took to Twitter to say: "Up and about and feeling fine. Thanks a lot for all the messages. Much appreciated."