Northampton Saints 19 Exeter Chiefs 22: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

The Saints boss said: "That's clearly not Exeter's number one side so we've got a pretty big mountain when we go back there to play them in the European quarter-final in a few weeks."

Indeed, they have.

Because while Saints could take some positives from the way they performed at Franklin's Gardens on Friday night, the gulf between the clubs looked just as clear as it did when the Chiefs ran riot at Sandy Park back in February.

On that day, Exeter won 57-7.

And while this was only a three-point success, it was one earned with a team packed with players who are not first-team regulars for the current Gallagher Premiership table-toppers.

What that means is that not only do Saints have a mountain to climb in the Champions Cup on September 20, but they have a cavern to cross in the months and years ahead.

Because from looking like a team that would potentially go toe to toe with Exeter in the pursuit of a top-two place back in November, Saints have slipped away alarmingly.

They have won just two of their past 10 Premiership matches and lost six successive games at home, breaking new, unwanted ground for the black, green and gold.

The statistics in terms of results are sobering.

But while the outcomes are so hard to take, some of the performances have shown that these days are not as dark as the ones a few years ago.

Saints are on a horrible run, yes.

But - that Exeter game earlier in the year aside - they are not being destroyed by teams.

In fact, it continues to be their own errors that are proving their undoing.

They are like a horse who gets around the track in contention but then clips a fence and fails to climb the final hill before eventually losing out.

It is agonising to watch, particularly because it has happened so often during this difficult calendar year.

Saints have lost six successive home matches thanks to a complete lack of composure when it counted.

None of the sides have outclassed them.

But every one of them has outlasted them.

In a league as ruthless as the Premiership, peaks can get you points but troughs cost you games.

Saints seemed to be in control at 19-14 up against Exeter, and the home side's bench looked to be the stronger.

But then the errors came back to haunt them yet again.

High balls were a problem for most of the night for Saints, whereas Exeter barely seemed to drop anything.

And that included at lineout time, which hampered Saints again.

They had huge chances to hammer home their advantage when they went ahead but fluffed a couple of lineouts in opposition territory and let Exeter out.

It was groundhog day.

Then came the inevitable.

Saints dropped the ball, Exeter pushed on and didn't have to wait too long to push their way over the line.

The late resistance simply wasn't there.

And then a familiar pattern continued as Saints had time to get back in the game but, with the pressure on, there were plenty of spills and few thrills as mistakes came and the game went.

Once again, the spirit and determination of this Saints team couldn't be criticised.

And there was plenty to like about their play.

They scored a couple of sensational tries that brought back memories of those special days earlier in the season.

But Jekyll soon turned to Hyde, and the magic formula that was previously possessed disappeared into the Northampton night sky, along with Saints' top-four hopes.

It has been an almost surreal slide down the league standings and one that will be so tough to arrest this season when you consider all of the injuries and inconsistencies.

Saints' fixtures continue to look so tough from here on in and their focus has to be securing that top-eight spot and giving it a real go at Exeter in the Champions Cup quarter-final.

But, as ever, that is easier said than done.

The Chiefs were marking their 10-year anniversary in the Premiership on Friday night, and they celebrated it in traditional winning style.

In their early days in England's top flight, they would be undone by teams like Saints who had more nous and more power.

But how Rob Baxter's side have progressed, to turn the tables on so many of the clubs that bullied them early in their journey.

While Saints have been up and down during the past 10 years, Exeter's progression has remained fairly consistent.

So much so that they are now the clear favourites to take the title this season.

As for Saints, they desperately need to get back on the upward curve they enjoyed late in 2019.

Their progress has stopped and so has the sweet taste of success.

How they get that back is up to the coaches who started to elevate them towards the end of 2018 to work out.

It won't be an easy journey, but it is possible.

Just ask Exeter.

How they rated...

GEORGE FURBANK

Looked really good when running with the ball but will be disappointed with the bread and butter of the high ball as he struggled to hold onto it... 6

AHSEE TUALA

Wasn't really able to make too much of an impact as a groin injury forced him off three minutes before half-time... 5.5

RORY HUTCHINSON

Built on his try at Harlequins with an elusive running display here, slaloming through to help set up one of the Saints tries... 7

MATT PROCTOR

Was one of Saints' better players against Harlequins and he looked in good shape again here, making 10 tackles without missing one... 7.5

TOM COLLINS

Was enjoying a good battle with Tom O'Flaherty before suffering what appeared to be a bad injury that ended his night early... 6

DAN BIGGAR

Won't have enjoyed his first two restart outings, but he was back to his old self here, steering the Saints ship with leadership and really tidy play... 7.5

HENRY TAYLOR

Looked very sharp and ran a good support line to grab a trademark score, and Saints could have done with him on for the full 80... 7.5

FRANCOIS VAN WYK

Tried to compete hard at the breakdown as Saints sought to stop Exeter in their tracks and was largely solid... 6.5

JAMES FISH

Produced a lovely run and offload for Taylor's try and the hooker looked sharp in open play... 7

OWEN FRANKS

Hasn't really been able to have the influence he would have liked as yet but was largely steady on this occasion... 6

DAVID RIBBANS

Showed fantastic drive and determination for both of his tries and this was a big showing from the lock... 8

API RATUNIYARAWA

Made some big tackles and did what he could to get hold of the ball and carry the fight before coming off... 6.5

COURTNEY LAWES

Never fails to impress and he did everything he could to use his physicality to put pressure on the away side... 7

JJ TONKS

Did drop the ball once or twice but made some jackhammer hits against bigger men as he showed some of his potential... 7

TEIMANA HARRISON

The determination of the skipper was etched all over his face as he continually put his body on the line for his team... 7

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)

TAQELE NAIYARAVORO (for Tuala 37)

Dropped a high ball during the second half and it proved costly as Exeter went on to score. Couldn't really get the ball in areas where he could do damage in attack... 5

PIERS FRANCIS (for Collins 45)

Came on at a time when Saints were starting to get a real grip of the game but things eventually got away from them... 5.5

PAUL HILL (for Franks 57)

Didn't do too much wrong overall and made five tackles without missing one after coming off the bench... 6

NICK ISIEKWE (for Ratuniyarawa 58)

A good man for Saints to be able to call on but he wasn't able to help them over the line on this occasion... 6

CHRON STAR MAN - Tom O'Flaherty (Exeter)