SALE Sharks’ director of rugby Steve Diamond says his side are not overly disheartened following their narrow defeat at Premiership title-holders Saracens last weekend.

Sharks were edged out 29-18 at Allianz Park, with Diamond believing errors in the first half set the scene for the rest of the match.

Reflecting on the result, Diamond said: "In the first half we were outgunned, they were more streetwise and we had a couple of errors that they capitalised on.

"When you give a team like Saracens those opportunities, they will take them. At half time we said that we weren't playing like the Sale of the past two months, let's have a go and get in position for a losing bonus point, if not win it.”

The Sharks are now 10th in the Premiership standings after their defeat in the capital, but Diamond reiterated a positive aspect of Sale’s overall performance.

He continued: "There's no disgrace in that performance. We're not too disheartened, and we've now got three home games that we can win. We'll congratulate Saracens and move on."

Defeat ended a five-match winning run for Sharks but Diamond remains upbeat.

He said: "The last five years we've finished in the top six or seven and we didn't play particularly well.

"There's a lot of talk about us losing 10 in a row but five of those were against Saracens and Toulon. Most sides would find themselves in a similar position.”

Sale return to action on Friday night when they host Northampton Saints at the AJ Bell Stadium.