Opposition view: Boss van Graan 'gutted' as Bath suffer late loss at Saints
Johann van Graan was 'gutted' after seeing his Bath side beaten by the final kick of the game at Saints on Saturday evening.
Fin Smith's penalty, awarded for a high tackle on Henry Pollock from replacement Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, handed the black, green and gold a 41-38 Gallagher PREM win at a sold-out cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.
And Bath boss van Graan said: "Look, the referee (Luke Pearce) made a decision. Gutted to lose an amazing game like that.
"We are tough to beat, we stick to our process, we go to our strengths.
"We came here to win, congratulations to Northampton.
"What a game of rugby, I'm so proud of our lads."
Van Graan had made wholesale changes to his side as he sought to rest the majority of his first-team regulars ahead of the Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Union Bordeaux Bègles in France next weekend.
But Bath put up a real fight, pushing Saints all the way in a clash between the PREM's current top two sides.
"I've got too much respect for Northampton, for Dows (Phil Dowson) and his team - they're a brilliant side," said van Graan, when asked whether his side had struck a psychological blow with their performance.
"I can only speak about our group. We always back our group, we don't listen to outside noise, we stick within our circle and that's 23 guys that represented our whole group, the lads back home, the guys who travelled, our supporters, the whole club.
"What an advert for the PREM - two great teams."
Saints have scored 41 points in each of their three meetings with Bath this season, winning both PREM matches but losing the Champions Cup quarter-final at The Rec 43-41 a couple of weeks ago.
"The European quarter-final came down to the last few minutes and this one came down to the last play," van Graan said.
"Gutted to lose like that, it's two years in a row that we've lost like that with a penalty here, but that's sport and congratulations to Northampton."