Tigers lost a home game for the first time this season, as Saracens triumphed 32-23 at Welford Road on Saturday in the last round of the league programme.
But after finishing the regular season on top of the Guinness Premiership table, Tigers have another home date to look forward to as Bath Rugby head to Welford Road in the semi-finals on Sunday (4pm) with a place in the final at Twickenham up for grabs.
Alesana Tuilagi and Marcos Ayerza scored the tries in a first home defeat in 18 months, but Cockerill said: “We gave away too many points with a couple of soft tries and some ill-discipline which cost us in terms of penalties. If you are as inaccurate as we were at times then you will struggle.
“Saracens have gone to Northampton and taken their record, now they’ve come here and taken our home record. It hurts, but the only sure thing about a record is that at some stage you are going to lose it. That’s life.
"Now we have to dust ourselves off and work a little bit harder.
“I didn’t think we needed a wake-up call before the semi-final but it will certainly serve as a wake-up when we get back to work on Monday.
“We have to take it on the chin and get on with it. We’ve got a semi-final coming up so we can focus on that.”
Bath head to Welford Road for Sunday’s Guinness Premiership semi-final – and a fourth meeting of the sides this season.
“Bath are a good side,” said Cockerill. “They’ve had some good results recently, they’ve had some key men back in the team, but we’ve been on a good run too since we lost at Northampton and we’ll look forward to it.”
Tickets for Sunday’s game – the last Welford Road rugby action of the season – are available now. The semi-final is not included in a season ticket, but season ticket holders can book places at special discounted rates from £15 adults seating or standing and £5 juniors. All other supporters can book their places from just £18 adults, £8 juniors.
Book via the ticket office at Welford Road (open 8.30am-5pm all week and until 8pm on Wednesday), book online by clicking here or call the hotline 0844 856 1880. Group bookings are available too, call John McDonagh on the Tigers hotline number for details.
