Gloucester (6) 18 Tries: Garvey, Mauger Cons: B Davies Pens: Paul (2) Northampton (14) 26 Tries: Starling, Stcherbina Cons: Drahm (2) Pens: Drahm (4)

Starting only a point above bottom side Leeds, Saints were lifted early on as Neil Starling stormed through to score after a clever pass from Shane Drahm.

Soon after Drahm was the key again, feeding Marc Stcherbina who also saw off some weak challenges to score.

Gloucester fought back after the break but three Drahm penalties kept Saints in command and two late tries proved merely consolation for the home side.

Cherry and Whites coach Dean Ryan feared that his team may have missed their chance to finish in the Premiership top three.

"We have made a big dent in our bid to finish in the top three this season and now we have to be realistic," he said.

"We are certainly not where we thought we would be at this stage in the year. "Up until now, even though we haven't been playing like a top-three side, we were. Now we're not and still not playing as we want to. We must change."

We're much happier and more confident, looking at a good end to the season Budge Pountney

Northampton counterpart Budge Pountney believes his team may have turned a corner after their win.

Saints moved above Harlequins to 10th with their surprise four points at Kingsholm.

"Having beaten Leicester and Gloucester in back-to- back games we are in a much better position," Pountney said.

"We're much happier and more confident, looking at a good end to the season, although all we are thinking about is surviving the threat of relegation."

Gloucester: Goodridge; Garvey, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua, Kiole; Paul, Gomarsall; Wood, Curnier, Sigley; Eustace, Brown; Buxton, Boer, Balding.
Replacements: Mauger for Goodridge (73), B Davies for Paul (65), Page for Gomarsall (76), Azam for Curnier (43), Cornwell for Eustace (3), Narraway for Boer (76). Not Used: Bezuidenhout.

Northampton: Reihana; Rudd, Starling, Stcherbina, Human; Drahm, Howard; Emms, Richmond, Morris; Seely, Browne; Blowers, Krige, Soden.
Replacements: Sturgess for Emms (46), Beattie for Seely (73), Codling for Browne (64). Not Used: Budgen, Fulton, Myring, Vilk. Sin Bin: Blowers (60).

Referee: D Pearson (RFU)