Sale celebrate their last-gasp victory over Wasps at Adams Park © Getty Images

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Matches: Wasps 12 - 13 Sale Sharks

Teams: England | Sale Sharks | Wasps

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan insists there is no question his side will dig themselves out of Premiership trouble despite crashing to their sixth defeat of the season against Sale.

Wasps Dave Walder had outgunned England's out-of-favour fly-half Charlie Hodgson with the boot as the hosts led 12-6 until some suicidal defending allowed Mark Cueto in at the death as Hodgson sealed the win from in front of the posts. But McGeechan, whose team have chalked up only one victory so far this season, is adamant it will not be long before Wasps are back among the Premiership big boys.

He said: "We'll still be trying to make the top six, that doesn't change. Last year we did the same, aimed for the top six then the top four and ended up second. We've got a few of our key players away with their international teams and I still firmly believe that we were the better team when we were in their 22.

"For most of the second half I thought the game was over. I couldn't see Sale scoring and we played pretty well, whereas they were really quite cynical. The pack were outstanding and in the end we haven't got a win we deserved."

An ever reliable Raphael Ibanez line-out set up the first points of the match for Wasps, Dave Walder converting on nine minutes for 3-0. The Wasps pack began to dominate and good work in the breakdown gave Walder another opportunity just three minutes later for a 6-0 lead.

Hodgson, keen to send England boss Martin Johnson a timely reminder of his talents, soon cut the arrears to three points before another Walder penalty made it 9-3 on 20 minutes. A further exchange of kicks finally gave Hodgson the chance to make it 9-6 before a fourth Walder penalty sent Wasps into the break 12-6.

After the break a George Skivington breakaway in the belting rain threatened to bring the game to life but an incredible Sale defensive effort fought off yet another attack. Wasps were made to pay in the closing stages when England hopeful Cueto ghosted through the home defence to hand Sale the narrowest of victories, leaving boss Philippe Saint-Andre a relieved man.

He said: "We deserved to win. It was a very close game and I'm sure everyone will agree with me when I say it was not pretty. But it is important to come back with a win because we have some tough weeks ahead.

"I think it's a hugely important win, our back row was very young and I think it's very important for our confidence to beat the champions. It made a huge difference to have Jason White and Eifion Roberts back."