Opposition view: Sanderson insists wheels haven't fallen off for Sale
Alex Sanderson says ‘the wheels certainly haven’t fallen off’ for Sale Sharks after their 43-29 defeat at home to Saints on Saturday.
Sale have finished in the top four of the Gallagher PREM in each of the past three seasons, but they now sit seventh, 16 points adrift of the play-off places with eight games to go.
Saints are leading the way, having won eight of their 10 league matches in this campaign.
And Phil Dowson’s men were impressive winners at the CorpAcq Stadium on Saturday, coming back three times during the second half to secure their first league win at Sale since March 2017.
The Sharks had targeted the fixture as a way to reignite their play-off hopes, but it was Saints who prevailed.
Despite the defeat and the situation his side find themselves in, Sale boss Sanderson said: "This is not a club in freefall. It's not a team that is pointing fingers.
"The wheels certainly haven't fallen off, they just need tightening up.
"No one is fooling themselves out there. We all realise that we have got ways to go if we want to be back up there in finals at the end of the year.
"We've got the support of the owner. Michelle (Orange) was the first to give us a cuddle on the sidelines. There is a very strong foundation to build on.
"I'm miserable, gutted that we've lost and gutted that our aspirations of getting to a final are gone. But I'll deal with that and I'll be good again on Monday."