There was no shape to the Gloucester side, and after Northampton made the most of some poor defence in the opening 20 minutes, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Kingsholm side.

Converted tries from Starling and Stcherbina in the first 17 minutes saw the Saints take a 14-0 lead, before two penalties from Henry Paul edged Gloucester back into at half time (14-6 to Northampton).

Shane Drahm's boot added to Gloucester's woes early in the second half to put Northampton into a 23-6 lead, before late tries from Marcel Garvey and Nathan Mauger offered some hope of a bonus point, but it was all too late.

Commenting after the game coach Dean Ryan said: "That result has put a big dent in our bid for a top three finish. There's no point saying we're a top three side, if we can't put teams away.

"We have to play like a top three side, and we haven't done this season. We are certainly not where we thought we would be at this stage in the year.

"We've got to start being more realistic with ourselves, then we might get some fight back into the team.

"Up until now, even though we haven't been playing like a top-three side, mathematically we were still up there. Now we are not even in the top three and certainly still not playing as we want to. We have to change things."

Adam Eustace, who was stretchered off after three minutes with a knock to the head, went to hospital as a precaution, and was back at the Club after the game. The second row forward didn't suffer any damage to the neck, and his injury was described as a slight whip-lash injury.

Gary Powell missed Saturday's game with an ankle injury, but should be available for the away clash at London Irish in two weeks time.

Match Summary

3 mins:
Mark Cornwell came on for Adam Eustace, who went down after piling into a maul and receiving lengthy treatment to a bang to his head. The second row forward, who signed a new two-year contract this week, went off on the stretcher.

9 mins:
Fanolua's chip ahead re-bounded off Human, who missed the breakaway chance as his fly hack went straight to touch.

12 mins:
Northampton hit first. Drahm kept their play alive with a series of moves inside the half-back channel. The ball was spread wide to Rudd, who made metres out wide, before Howard recycled into midfield and the Gloucester defence was caught out, as Neil Starling ran a straight line to touch down. Drahm converted.

(7-0 to Saints)

16 mins:
Northampton kept the pressure on as Drahm played some tricky midfield moves that gave the Saints backs some space out wide.

17 mins:
A try saving tackle from Alex Brown pulled John Rudd down 10 metres short as he broke from half way. The Saints kept moving the ball inside the Gloucester 22 and Marc Stcherbina came up with their second try under the posts. Drahm converted.

(14-0 to Saints)

21 mins:
Gloucester finally put some passes together, before Northampton were penalised and Henry Paul opted for the posts about 30 metres out. Paul's kick went right through the middle.

(14-3 to Saints)

25 mins:
Again, Gloucester started to make up for their sloppy start. Simpson-Daniel showed a dummy pass and made metres, before play came back for Henry Paul's second penalty, which was good.

(14-6 to Saints)

32 mins:
James Simpson-Daniel almost intercepted a Reihana pass, but just couldn't hold on to it.

34 mins:
Gomarsall took a high cross-field kick from Drahm and off-loaded to Garvey in front of the Shed as he was tackled. The right winger sprinted clear of the Saints tacklers, but his pass inside was knocked on by Wood.

35 mins:
Simpson-Daniel set the game alight when he dodged in and out of the Northampton tacklers, he then found himself in space with an overlap, but went on his own, before being tackled. Kiole took it on, but Gloucester just couldn't make it over the line.

37 mins:
Gloucester had another penalty three metres into the Northampton half after Drahm was penalised. Paul went to touch.

39 mins:
Brown and Gomarsall combined at the set-piece, with Buxton taking it 10 metres in midfield. Gomarsall was on hand to push for the line, before the forwards took it on. But the ball was lost metres short, before Northampton cleared from the scrum.

40 mins (and injury time)
Reihana's tricky kick, that Goodridge let bounce, pinned Gloucester back on their own line going into injury time.

Half time: Gloucester 6 Northampton 14

Second half:

43 mins:
Azam came on for Curnier.

46 mins:
Azam made an immediate impression as he bulldozed 10 metres, followed by another 10 from Gomarsall. Paul's flip inside-pass kept the play alive. Simpson-Daniel, again threatened, out wide before Northampton were penalised and Paul went to touch for a line-out five metres from the Saints line.

Sturgess replaced Emms in the Northampton front row.

47 mins:
The forwards drove Northampton back from the line-out, including Fanolua as part of the maul. Gloucester went over for the score, with Fanolua on the ball and two of his forwards on top, but the referee said he hadn't seen the score and reset the play for a scrum five metres out. The visitors were penalised and Gloucester opted for another scrum, but lost possession and Northampton cleared.

52 mins:
Northampton were penalised again and Paul went to touch, the forwards drove the set-piece, but the ball was lost in midfield as it came through the back-line, and the Saints almost broke away.

56 mins:
Drahm took another three-point penalty attempt.

(17-6 to Saints)

58-62 mins:
Kiole piled through from the re-start. Gomarsall continued to keep the tempo going, Azam made metres inside the Saints 22. Henry Paul's chip just bounced the wrong way for Simpson-Daniel, before referee Pearson pulled play back for a penalty. Pearson was forever playing advantage against Northampton, as the penalties came thick and fast as the visitors pulled every maul down and did anything to stop Gloucester scoring. Blowers received a yellow card for collapsing one of the mauls (62 mins).

63 mins:
Gloucester just couldn't make the pressure tell, and handling errors were letting them down at key moments.

64 mins:
Codling came on Browne.

65 mins:
Another penalty to Northampton in kicking range saw Drahm step up. His kick was successful.

(20-6 to Saints)

Brad Davies replaced Henry Paul.

69 mins:
Vilk replaced Starling for Northampton.

70 mins:
Gloucester's chances looked to have gone when they were reduced to 14 men after Azam received a yellow card for killing the ball as Northampton were close to the Gloucester line.

73 mins:
Drahm had another penalty to extend the lead.

(23-6 to Saints)

74 mins:
Gloucester hit back. Gomarsall made a brilliant break on the short side to make 30 metres into the Saints 22. Kiole and Buxton took it on, before Gomarsall recycled to Brad Davies and Fanolua. Simpson-Daniel straightened up the play and had Nathan Mauger in support. He put Garvey away who flew over for the touch down. Davies missed the touchline conversion.

(23-11 to Saints)

78 mins:
Drahm had another chance for three points.

(26-11 to Saints)

Nathan Mauger grabbed an injury time try that Davies converted to keep Gloucester's hopes of a bonus point alive. But the final whistle saw no points for Gloucester.