Tait's side conceded 23 unanswered points in the second half

Newcastle Falcons head coach Alan Tait rued his side's disciplinary issues after Thursday's 32-8 European Challenge Cup defeat by Montpellier.

Six penalties, all converted by Benoit Paillaugue, were at the heart of a defeat that saw the French side score 23 unanswered points after half time.

"I keep saying this week in, week out," Tait told BBC Newcastle.

"We'll have a look at the video and see if it's individuals, but we've been at the wrong end of discipline again."

The absence of several first XV players, including Jimmy Gopperth, Jeremy Manning and Gcobani Bobo, forced Tait to field a string of inexperienced development players in the cauldron of Montpellier's Stade Yves-du-Manoir.

"It's a great stadium, you're playing in France against one of the Top 14 sides, they're doing well in the French league," Tait added.

"At least the guys have come out here and felt the atmosphere and found out what it's all about.

"I'm really looking forward to this team coming back to Kingston Park because I said to the guys afterwards: 'Would you be afraid to play them?' and they all said 'we're desperate to play these again next time at Kingston Park, we'll be waiting for them'.

"We've got seven days to get ready for Saracens, and they don't come any tougher.

"They're full of stars, and they'll be resting a lot of key players this weekend to play against us next weekend.

"We know it's going to be a tough battle, we'll get up for it, and hopefully we'll have a few players back fit and healthy next weekend."

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