Saints 'never really got going' during disappointing defeat at Tigers

The black, green and gold were well beaten at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, where they shipped six tries and lost three players to the sin bin.

Saints were level at 5-5 after 25 minutes, but things unravelled quickly as they suffered their second Gallagher PREM defeat of the season.

And Dingwall said: “Firstly I've just got to give credit to Tigers because I think they were very good and we probably absorbed a lot of their pressure and ultimately they dictated the game.

“That's what makes it hard because it didn't really feel like we got much out of that game or were really able to impose ourselves at all.

“Obviously a lot of that is on us but I have to start by giving credit to them.

“We started really well, it was physical from the off and we were in a really good spot, but a game can swing very quickly.

“They stacked pressure, there was a lack of discipline and ultimately it means people leaving the field and that's multiple scores.

“I don't think we were 20-odd points worse than them, it was compounded errors giving them a few breakaways towards the back end of it as well.

“We never deserved to win the game. We never really got going enough.

“I had full confidence at half-time (with Saints 19-5 down) that we were in it because we've managed momentum before and I was confident we could come out and fire a few shots, but we never really managed to launch off set piece, our attack stuff didn't really get going.

“Ultimately we were defending a lot and trying to absorb a lot of pressure and that stacks on top of you. Before you know it, you're down to 13 men and it's a tough game to play.

“There's a lot to take from it but we roll into another week with another big challenge coming.”

Saints lost Tom Lockett to an injury in the warm-up, bringing Chunya Munga into the starting 15.

But Dingwall refused to use that late change as an excuse for his side's set-piece struggles.

“You prep the whole week with him (Lockett) calling the lineouts but you back everyone to step up and do a job,” the England centre said.

“Chunya did a good job, it's just frustrating losing people before the game, but it isn't the reason we lost this game - there's way more to it.

“All we can do is bounce back.”

Saints may have headed into the weekend sitting top of the PREM table, but they had made it clear there was plenty to work on after having a week off following their narrow win against a heavily-rotated Bath side.

However, they failed to show improvement against Tigers.

“It's just the small margins we're competing with,” Dingwall said. “We're missing the tiny, tiny details.

“If you launch better, you get delivery in terms of your set piece better and all of a sudden you're imposing yourself on them and it feels like they have to give away penalties instead of us.

“There's not huge solves, it's just the minor details we've got to keep going after.”

Next up for Saints is a big battle with Bristol Bears at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Bears, who continue to chase a spot in the top four, were dealt a blow on Saturday evening as they lost 41-26 at home to Saracens, who are ominously closing in on the play-off places.

“Every game at the moment is a big game because it's the back end of the season,” Dingwall said.

“It's a massive challenge, it's another team in and around that top four.

“They're playing some good stuff and they're the only other team to beat us in the league along with Leicester.

“They're coming to our place and we know we need to bounce back.”