No faulting the effort says Booth

But while the table may make depressing reading for Irish fans, the stats tell a far more promising story.

Booth's men have picked up a losing bonus point in each of their defeats and can claim a thrilling four-try win at Racing Metro as proof that they have been far from out of their depth this year despite fielding a host of young players with little top-table experience.

"I'm not disappointed with the effort although I'm obviously disappointed with the outcome," said Booth, referring to both the result against the Blues and the state of the group as a whole.

"It was a competitive game and that's been the story of this pool. There was one key moment in the match that they scored a try from and that proved to be decisive.

"It was a tight, tight game…and, unfortunately, we've come out on the wrong side of it. We need to learn our lessons and become a bit more streetwise about the difference between the Premiership and the Heineken Cup.

"I'm very proud of the effort, in the whole of the competition, though. We're certainly much improved from where we were last year. We've been in every contest.

"This new group of London Irish players has little Heineken Cup experience and they'll be better for it but that doesn't hide the disappointment of where we are now. We don't enter in any competition to come second, so the exit's still pretty raw at the moment."

Booth has given youth a chance throughout the campaign as Irish look to unveil a new generation of stars who can consistently match the semi-final showing of 2008.

Much has changed since that last-four defeat to Toulouse at Twickenham but Booth believes Irish are on the right track.

They fielded an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old in the back row on Saturday in Dave Sisi and Alex Gray respectively and neither were made to look second rate by opposite numbers Sam Warburton and Xavier Rush.

And while it is true to say the pair didn't outplay their more illustrious opponents, they and plenty of other relative newcomers have shown more than enough to suggest Irish could have a decent Heineken Cup future ahead of them.

"I thought Dave Sisi and Alex Gray in the back row were outstanding, both from an effort point of view and in terms of the things they did. They'll learn a massive amount from that game," added Booth.

"Darren Allinson was absolutely first class in how he managed the game at nine in what was a fifty fifty battle in a lot of the elements.

"Matt Garvey showed his credentials again and a lot of other players are stepping up to the plate. So there's not a massive amount I can sit here and say I'm really disappointed with.

"When you're putting out youngsters, you have to take the error count that comes with that. They're very talented but understanding and executing things under pressure is all part of the evolution of players."

Irish head to Murrayfield next Sunday knowing it is the home side and not themselves who are chasing quarter-final qualification but Booth has dispelled any suggestion that their hearts won't be in it now that a last-eight place is beyond them.

"It's simple for us: we lost this week so we need to win next week. It's about personal pride and playing for London Irish.

"We won't underestimate the job that's in front of us - it's a massive job because it's a must-win game for them to go through. But we can only look at ourselves and see what we can do to improve because we work very hard to get in this competition and it's tough to be going out."