Bath: (21) 40

Tries: De Glanville, Russell, Cokanasiga, Du Toit 2, Lawrence Cons: Russell 5

Clermont Auvergne: (14) 21

Tries: Fainga’a, Belleau, Yato Cons: Belleau 3 Red card: Akhaladze

Bath breathed life into their Investec Champions Cup campaign with an impressive bonus-point victory over 14-man Clermont Auvergne at the Rec.

Finn Russell was the architect of Clermont’s demise, producing an influential display with ball in hand and from the boot, while the visitors lost prop Giorgi Akhaladze to a first-half red card.

Bath, who had lost their opening two games in Pool 2, raced into an early lead through Tom de Glanville’s try before Russell created and finished their second soon after.

Clermont hit back as Folau Fainga’a powered over from close range, but the game changed when Akhaladze was sent off for making direct head contact with Bath centre Max Ojomoh.

The hosts punished Clermont two minutes later when Ojomoh claimed Russell’s clever chip to feed Joe Cokanasiga for their third try.

Despite their deficit on the field, Clermont were rewarded for their resolve on the stroke of half-time as Anthony Belleau pirouetted over the line with a neat finish.

Thomas du Toit’s surge under the posts secured the bonus after the break before the prop burrowed over from a similar distance for Bath’s fifth try.

Clermont, who arrived at the Rec having beaten Benetton before losing at Leinster, remained committed and earned a deserved consolation through Peceli Yato, but the hosts had the final say as Ollie Lawrence grounded their sixth try in the corner.

Bath move from sixth to third in Pool 2 but face a daunting trip in their final game to four-time winners Leinster, who have already qualified for the knockout stages.

Fifth-placed Clermont leave the Rec empty-handed and host Bath’s Premiership rivals Bristol in round four, with both sides still capable of qualification.

Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, McConnichie; Russell, Spencer (capt); Obano, Dunn, Du Toit; Roux, Ewels, Hill, Reid, Barbeary.

Replacements: Annett, Van Wyk, Stuart, Molony, Bayliss, Schreuder, Bailey, Staddon.

Clermont Auvergne: Newsome; Delguy, Fouyssac, Simone, Tauzin; Belleau, Jauneau; Akhaladze, Fainga’a, Montagne, Simmons, Yato, Tixeront, Kremer, Lee (capt).

Replacements: Fourcade, Lotrian, Ala’alatoa, Ceyte, Rixen, Bezy, Giral, Raka.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)