MATCH FACTS Gloucester: (12) 24 Tries: Garvey, Fanolua, Parkes, Goodridge Cons: Amor 2 Sale: (8) 14 Tries: Todd Pens: Hayward (3)

Fortey was stretchered off in the first half with a badly broken ankle to leave Gloucester struggling for cover in the front row.

The Cherry and Whites, though, climbed to fourth after earning a bonus point for scoring four tries.

Marcel Garvey, Terry Fanolua, James Parkes and Jon Goodridge all went over as Robert Todd scored for Sale.

Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Melville had mixed feelings after his side's return to form was coupled with Fortey's injury.

"We are expecting Chris to have a pin put into his ankle first thing Saturday to stabilise the injury, but it is not good news," said Melville.

"We are going to have to go into the forthcoming Heineken Cup games with the depleted squad we've got.

"Despite having so many players missing over the past three weeks we have got better and stronger. This was a fantastic win."

Hopefully we will get rid of this losing habit Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre

Sale full-back Byron Hayward kicked the first points with an early penalty but it was the home side who exerted the first real pressure.

Gloucester's efforts paid off and from a Fortey break, Simon Amor lofted a cross-kick to the right wing for Garvey to pouch and score.

Centre Fanolua was next to score when his chip through was gathered by Garvey and then fed back to the Samoan.

Sale clawed their way back into the game before the break, courtesy of a try from Gloucester old boy Todd.

But Fortey's replacement, Parkes, rumbled over from close range in the second period before full-back Goodridge grabbed the all-important fourth try.

Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre blamed the third straight defeat on his heavily depleted squad.

He is without 13 players through international duty and injuries.

"It will be good to have the players back on Monday and hopefully we will get rid of this losing habit," said Saint-Andre.

"We realise we need a bigger and stronger squad."

Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Mauger, Fanolua, Kiole, Amor, Page, Bezuidenhout, Fortey, Powell, Eustace, Buxton, Forrester, Boer, Balding.
Replacements: Parkes, Wood, Pendlebury, Narraway, Davies, Bailey, Teague.

Sale: Hayward, Rhys Jones, Taumalolo, Todd, Hanley, Baxendell, Martens, Turner, Roddam, Stewart, Day, Schofield, Caillet, Carter, Anglesea.
Replacements: Halsall, Bozzi, Perrett, Lund, Redpath, Wigglesworth, Moore.