Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson accepted his share of the responsibility for the Sharks performance after a 47-17 Premiership humbling at Northampton on Friday night.

Sanderson's side saw the match rapidly get away from them after youngster Alex Wills was sent to the sin bin in the first half.

Northampton, who were looking to bounce back from their derby defeat to Leicester, scored early through Tommy Freeman and George Furbank before Luke Cowan-Dickie pulled a try back for Sale.

However, three tries in six minutes followed Wills' yellow card as Ollie Sleightholme (two) and Tom James extended Saints' advantage.

George Hendy's intercept score made it 40-10 at half time and after Joe Carpenter pulled one back after the break, James Ramm rounded the night off for Northampton as they made it 18 successive home wins at Franklin's Gardens.

Sanderson said: "They were sharp and aggressive and I think we played too loose against an angry side, if I'm honest, and I think that's down to the preparation.

"I've said I'm taking that off the boys - as coaches we probably didn't focus on the right things in the week and that looseness showed in the turnover tries a lack of physicality in defence in some of those opening sets.

"We found ourselves 30 points down at half time and that climb's too steep and too long against a decent team.

"Our execution in attack was as poor as it's been, and it has been good so that was the exception over the last three weeks, at least.

"It's very difficult to put a finger on it without having looked at the tape, but I think the mentality drives your behaviours and I think I got that wrong this week."

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson reserved praise for his side, particularly England pick Freeman.

Talking about the 23-year-old, Dowson said: "He's obviously adept at all those positions - full-back, wing, 13 today - and the more you get him on the ball the better.

"He got some space today and he showed what a capable player he is.

"I think Steve's [Borthwick, England coach] got some great decisions to make in that space - Henry Slade is one of the best in the league and I think he's back fit, so he's got some decisions to make in terms of how he balances that up.

"I would be surprised if he [Freeman] was not in the mix somewhere and where he fits and how he fits and how they get him in the game is interesting."

On the victory, Dowson added: "In the derby [at Leicester], we didn't convert a lot of our opportunities and today, via the bounce of the ball and a stroke of luck, we converted pretty much everything."