Lund (R) was a vital part of Sale's game-turning forward effort

Sale 20 (3)
Tries: Bell, Bruno
Cons: Wigglesworth 2
Pens: Blair, Wigglesworth

Gloucester 19 (16)
Try: Simpson-Daniel
Con: Lamb
Pens: Lamb 4

Injury-ravaged Sale ended a run of four straight league defeats thanks to a stunning second-half comeback.

The visitors took a 16-3 lead at the break thanks to three Ryan Lamb kicks and a try from James Simpson-Daniel.

But Sale's forwards led from the front in the second half and tries from Chris Bell and Sebastien Bruno reduced the deficit to just two points.

And stand-in fly-half Richard Wigglesworth calmly slotted over the winning penalty on 78 minutes.

Defending champions Sale had been in dreadful form going into the game and the Sharks knew another defeat would leave their title defence in tatters.

And that is how it was looking as Gloucester came flying out of the traps.

Fly-half Ryan Lamb put the Cherry and Whites ahead with a penalty on eight minutes and added another after Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe was sin-binned for killing the ball.

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Fly-half David Blair pegged one back for Sale on 18 minutes as the home side enjoyed their first major bit of possession but Lamb added his third kick after rampaging number eight Sebastien Chabal was penalised for a late hit on Iain Balshaw.

Gloucester looked the more threatening with the ball in hand and got the first try of the game just before the break when Daniel Larrechea made a hash of Balshaw's kick through to allow James Simpson-Daniel the opportunity to touch down.

Sale's chances of victory looked to be over after Blair and Chabal had to leave the field injured but their forwards got them back in the game.

The pack edged their way towards the Gloucester line on 54 minutes and after prop Christian Califano was yellow carded for coming in at the side, Bell broke through a large gap to score.

Lamb made the score 10-19 with his fourth penalty but Sale's forwards again put in the hard yards with 10 minutes left and Bruno was bundled over to set up a grandstand finale.

Gloucester looked to have the game wrapped up as they piled forward but it was Sale who had the final word when the visitors were penalised for offside following a Sililo Martens break.

And Wigglesworth, normally a number nine but filling in at 10 after Blair's injury, nervelessly thumped the ball through the posts to send Edgeley Park into ecstasy.

Sale have already lost Jason White, Charlie Hodgson and Andrew Sheridan and now Chabal is believed to have a thigh problem while Blair, who took a knee to the ribs before half-time, is now the third number 10 on the sidelines.

Hooker Andy Titterrell could also have a thumb injury.

"I am very pleased for the players. It was a great, great game for the fans.

"In the first half we didn't struggle in the line-outs and in the rucks and from there we became a bit better."

"For most of the contest, we were the Gloucester we wanted to be and, for most of it, it was a cracking game.

"That was a top-of-the-table clash between two of the best sides and I cannot say enough good things."

Sale: Larrechea; Robinson, Taylor, Bell, Mayor; Blair, Wigglesworth; Faure, Titterrell, Stewart, Jones, Schofield, J Fernandez Lobbe, Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Martens for Larrechea (46), Foden for Blair (38), Roberts for Faure (74), Bruno for Titterrell (64), Turner for Stewart (49), Bonner-Evans for Schofield (61), Day for Chabal (44).

Sin Bin: J Fernandez Lobbe (14).

Gloucester: Morgan; Simpson-Daniel, Tindall, Allen, Balshaw; Lamb, Lawson; Wood, M Davies, Nieto, Bortolami, Brown, Buxton, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Walker for Lamb (68), Richards for Lawson (55), Califano for Wood (49), Boer for Buxton (61).
Not Used: Azam, Pendlebury, Foster.

Sin Bin: Califano (53).

Att: 8,377

Ref: Wayne Barnes (England).