Boyd admits one more defeat will end Saints' top-four bid

The black, green and gold were beaten 30-17 at Harlequins on Sunday afternoon, shipping four tries in the process.

It was their third defeat from four games since the resumption of the Gallagher Premiership, and things don't get much easier in the weeks to come.

Saints, who are four points off fourth but have played a game more than the two teams above them, host table-topping Exeter Chiefs on Friday before going to Bristol Bears four days later.

They also have a trip to Leicester Tigers, a home game against Sale Sharks and a final-day fixture at Gloucester on the agenda.

And when asked whether Saints still have hope of making the play-offs, Boyd said: "It's still alive.

"I think we'd have to win five from five and it's a hell of a big mountain but it's not dead.

"We have an obligation to chase it at home when we play Exeter on Friday.

"But in my view, one more defeat will be terminal for our chances of making the top four."

Saints' defeat at The Stoop owed much to a tough spell during the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Boyd's side were just four points down at the break, but quickfire tries from Chris Robshaw and Chris Ashton put them 30-14 behind.

And Saints could only summon a James Grayson penalty in the second period as they slipped to another defeat.

"The bit before half-time wasn't great either," said Boyd, when asked about the first 10 minutes of the second half.

"I don't know whether we're too tight around trying to chase the game.

"We certainly weren't very smart, made too many errors and kept letting them back in the game."