Northampton Saints 21 Wasps 34: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

Four Gallagher Premiership games have been played a Franklin's Gardens in 2020, and four defeats have been suffered.

London Irish, Bristol Bears, Saracens and now Wasps have all taken advantage of Saints' profligacy.

The black, green and gold have kept opposition sides in the game, and they have taken full advantage.

Wasps spent minimal time in the Saints 22 on Sunday, yet they scored four tries.

It was all far too easy.

And when you consider Saints played 20 minutes of the match with a man more - Wasps were hit by two sin-binnings - to lose by 13 points at home is really tough to take.

The major difference between the two sides came in the red zones.

In their own 22, Saints were sloppy and porous, while in the Wasps 22 they were often outgunned at the breakdown, leading to slow possession and sometimes none at all.

Wasps, with their back row ruling the roost, turned the ball over time and again in front of their own posts.

Saints may not have been happy with some of the breakdown interpretations, but there is no doubt that Wasps deserve huge credit for their defensive intensity.

It was led by the likes of Jack Willis and Thomas Young, while others such as Malakai Fekitoa, who was yellow carded when he could have seen red, also brought fire and desire.

Saints did score twice, but they would have expected far more from the possession they had.

They were often met with the kind of resistance they struggled to muster at the other end of the field.

And although it was said form would go out of the window with more than five months between matches, sadly it wasn't the case for Saints at home.

They haven't been able to conjure the kind of magic they delivered earlier in the season, and have consequently slipped to sixth in the standings.

They have lost five of their seven league matches during a sobering 2020, with only away wins against Wasps and Worcester to show for their efforts.

And if they don't start to improve that record quickly, especially with three games coming up in eight days, their hopes of a top-four finish will become a distant memory.

But they have plenty of reinforcements to call upon.

Men such as Rory Hutchinson, Nick Isiekwe and Jamie Gibson may have expected to feature against Wasps.

But as it is, they will surely get game time against London Irish this weekend, all being well.

Saints have a sizeable pool of options, and plenty of players to unlock opposition doors.

They haven't found it easy during this calendar year, but you don't lose that class over the course of a few games.

They just need to get the confidence flowing again and if they start to click, we know they can be a handful for any team.

But they can ill afford the kind of errors they produced on Sunday.

We knew there would be some mistakes after so long on the sidelines, but the problem was that while Saints made many, Wasps made so few.

Lee Blackett's in-form side came out of the blocks quicker than most of their rivals on the return to league action, picking up where they left off before the lengthy break.

Saints got stuck in the stalls, but they must emerge quickly at The Stoop on Saturday.

Because they have already seen what London Irish can do to them if they are not on their A game.

And with so many top teams to play in the weeks to come, Saints simply can't afford another slip-up.

They need a new, new normal.

And how they would love to make winning at The Stoop that fresh habit as they go there twice in the space of as many weekends before August is out.

It won't be easy, but these are the kind of challenges title hopefuls overcome.

And we are now really about to see if Saints can still live up to that tag.

How they rated...

GEORGE FURBANK

Not the usual slick showing from the full-back, who was shut down well by Wasps and put under real pressure... 5

AHSEE TUALA

Couldn't have a real say on the game and saw a try-scoring opportunity elude him as Lima Sopoaga illegally blocked a Furbank pass out wide... 5

FRASER DINGWALL

Became a target for the Wasps defence as the made some huge hits on the unfortunate centre, preventing him from having an impact... 5

PIERS FRANCIS

The centre was making his long-awaited return from concussion and did make some good runs, only to be met by a brick wall... 5.5

TAQELE NAIYARAVORO

Came in at late notice after Harry Mallinder was forced to withdraw and his huge charge led to Mitchell's try early in the second half... 5.5

DAN BIGGAR

Saints' player of the season so far wasn't able to continue his form on this occasion as he missed touch a couple of times and his handling wasn't quite as secure... 5

ALEX MITCHELL

Didn't have the best of first halves, but bounced back after the break with a try and looked better in the second period... 6

FRANCOIS VAN WYK

Has got better and better since joining Saints but wasn't able to have a real say in this one as the Wasps pack more than matched their hosts... 5.5

SAM MATAVESI

Came in at late notice after Mike Haywood was given time off due to welcoming a new son into the world, and didn't have the easiest day before being replaced... 5

PAUL HILL

Didn't find favour with the referee in the first half as Saints struggled to assert their authority up front... 5

DAVID RIBBANS

Saints will be delighted to see this man back in action, and he returned with a bang, scoring a try and carrying as hard as ever... 6

API RATUNIYARAWA

Was back from probably the longest four-game ban in history, but couldn't really have a big influence on his return... 5.5

COURTNEY LAWES

Made a sensational try-saving tackle on Zach Kibirige during the first half and was used as a battering ram to try to create holes in the Wasps defence, but they handled him well... 6

LEWIS LUDLAM

Gave his all as usual, but wasn't at his sharpest on this occasion, with the breakdown battle not able to be won... 5

TEIMANA HARRISON

Frantically tried to push his team forward with some typically aggressive carries, but Wasps wouldn't let him make his usual metres... 5.5

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)

JAMES FISH (for Matavesi 47)

Tried to steady the ship at lineout time but one throw put Saints under pressure close to their own line and Wasps won the ball back to score a crucial try... 5

OWEN FRANKS (for Hill 47)

Will be hoping for a big finish to his first season at Saints but wasn't able to help his team muster one in this match... 5.5

MATT PROCTOR (for Dingwall 57)

Has shown some flashes of real class in Saints colours but didn't really have an impact off the bench here... 5.5

CHRON STAR MAN - Jack Willis (Wasps)