'Realistically, we’ve got to win 5 out of our last 7 games'

Alex Sanderson praised his side as Sale secured a thrilling 27-24 bonus-point win over defending champions Northampton which boosted their Premiership play-off hopes.

England winger Tom Roebuck claimed a first-half brace as Sanderson’s team saw off the feisty challenge of Saints, whose hopes of a top-four finish are fading fast.

This victory moves Sale into the top four – temporarily at least – but both teams scored four tries apiece in an entertaining tussle in Salford.

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Sanderson said: “I thought we were good for the win but Northampton showed why they’re a champion side.

“They don’t tire and they don’t give up when you give them little sniffs like we did.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Sale

27 - 24

Full-time

Northampton

All Stats and Data

“We put the pressure back on ourselves and they capitalised on that because they’re very good on the front foot with a bit of quick ball.

“Realistically, we’ve got to win five out of our last seven games with bonus points to finish in the top four.

“That means you’ve got to win your home games and I thought our attacking intent tonight was brilliant. To score 27 points against a team of Northampton’s calibre is good progress.”

Tom O’Flaherty opened the scoring and Roebuck went over twice before the break, with prop Bevan Rodd adding a fourth in the second half.

George Ford’s two conversions and second-half penalty ultimately proved crucial in seeing off Northampton’s spirited challenge.

They scored through Emmanuel Iyogun and Tommy Freeman before the break and Henry Pollock and captain Fraser Dingwall in the second half.

But Saints’ hopes of making the play-offs are fading fast after this latest defeat.

Boss Phil Dowson could at least take solace from his team’s performance and Pollock’s masterclass, which included a brilliant individual try immediately after the break.

Dowson said: “Henry’s got the ability to changes games and do things others can’t. His try was pretty special and he’s got huge potential.

“It was a frustrating game and to have two players (Tom James and Freeman) sin-binned in the first 20 minutes made it difficult.

“We just about survived and had some momentum in the latter part of the first half.

“The second half became very stop-start and we couldn’t really put much together.”

Dowson felt the performance marked a huge improvement on last Friday’s thumping 33-0 home defeat to rivals Leicester.

He added: “In terms of our effort, intent and how we went about our work, it was night and day compared to last week.

“But again, our execution wasn’t good enough.”

Asked about his side’s play-off prospects, Dowson said: “We have to make sure that we’re not too down about the situation we’re in and focus on our performances.”