Defiant Bath coach Jon Callard came out fighting after his team slumped to their second successive Premiership defeat.

Bath crashed 26-7 at Northampton, with Saints full-back Paul Grayson kicking 16 points, including conversions from tries by captain Budge Pountney and centre Peter Jorgensen.

The set-back came just six days after Bath suffered a shock 10-6 defeat against Premiership newcomers Leeds and they scored only one try and just 13 points in two games.

"I am disappointed that we haven't started with two wins, and collected just one point from a possible 10," Callard said.

"But this season has got a very long way to run, and I can assure you that we are not going to capitulate after two games.

"It is disappointing for everyone to lose two matches at the start of the season, and I fully understand that. But let's look where we are at the end of the season - when we have got a full squad - then I believe we can challenge."

British Lion Iain Balshaw is set to make his first appearance of the campaign against Saracens next Saturday, while England centre Mick Tindall could also return following a length injury lay-off.

On top of that, Bath are also hoping for positive news on Mike Catt's recovery from injury troubles.

Bath fielded one of the youngest back divisions in their history, and were even forced into a captaincy change when Dan Lyle pulled out through injury and lock Steve Borthwick took over.

Bath's inexperience showed on occasions though, and once the Northampton forwards took control, there was only one result.

Northampton's league record crowd of just over 10,000 saw them score 19 unanswered second half points and Bath had no response as they found themselves under siege.

"It was not 100, and we can improve in a lot of areas, but we have come away with a convincing win against a team that will do well this season," said Northampton Rugby director John Steele.