Newcastle coach Steve Bates insisted Jonny Wilkinson had not suffered a long-term problem even though he was taken off during the interval of Saturday's 37-11 defeat at Sale.

The England stand-off appeared to take a blow to the head during the opening period and didn't re-appear for the second half.

It brought back memories of a similar incident last season, when Wilkinson suffered a neck problem which briefly threatened his participation in the Lions tour to Australia.

However, Bates insisted Wilkinson's withdrawal was purely down to 'leg and ankle' problems.

Of more immediate concern to Newcastle was the embarrassment caused by a defeat which director of rugby Rob Andrew declared 'unthinkable' following last weekend's victory over Leicester.

Andrew went so far as to declare that defeat to Sale would be 'like England losing to Albania after beating Germany' a jibe which clearly stung the Cheshire club.

"As a club we try never to underestimate anyone but individual players may not have given Sale the respect they clearly deserve," said Bates, after Andrew had ducked the post-match press conference.

"After the first two games that may well change."

Bates did not believe the reference to Albania had fired Sale up and said that had Newcastle scored a try in the opening 20 minutes things might well have been different.

Newcastle didn't get off to the best of starts with the late arrival of Pat Lam and Va'aiga Tuigamala, who were caught up in traffic and who arrived at the ground just minutes before the team had to be named.

Jonny Wilkinson kicked the Falcons into a three-point lead and they looked in control until Charlie Hodgson levelled the scores on 10 minutes.

Sale than blazed ahead with a try and conversion from Hodgson and a try out wide for winger Steve Hanley after some powerful running from the Sale backs.

Hodgson added another penalty as Sale recovered from their slow start to finish the first half the much stronger side.

There's no stopping Jason Robinson these days and he tunnelled his way through a pile of players to score Sale's third try on 50 minutes.

Sale's fourth came thanks to a terrific forward drive with new signing Stuart Pinkerton taking the ball on and Pete Anglesea grounding.

Newcastle hit back with a try from Hugh Vyvyan and after several minutes of intense pressure it took another dazzling run from Robinson to clear Sale's line.

Sale rounded off an impressive display with a try from Adam Black just seconds after coming on as a replacement and stand-in kicker Jos Baxendell landed the conversation from the touch line.

"There was a big build-up to this game and the players have been under immense pressure, but they came through it really well," said Sale coach Jim Mallender.

"We would like to think that this is the start of a new era at Sale, but we are not going to get carried away after winning our first two games."