Sale's Andy Powell is felled by Courtney Lawes © Getty Images

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News: Mallinder backs Dickson start for England

Matches: Northampton Saints 24 - 17 Sale Sharks

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Northampton Saints | Sale Sharks

Northampton boss Jim Mallinder commended a "workmanlike" performance from his team as seven penalties from Stephen Myler earned victory over Sale at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.

A late drop-goal from Ryan Lamb helped the home side to their 24-17 win, although Sale scored the only try of the game through Mark Cueto.

Mallinder - who has ruled himself out of the running for the top job with England - accepted that his side were not at their best but the win was no less pleasing.

"It was a workmanlike performance, with the rain beforehand making conditions difficult," he said. "Sale made it awkward for us by flying up to put us under pressure. We need to look after our ball better and then the gaps will come but we stuck at it and got the win."

Northampton lost narrowly at Gloucester last time out, when Lamb missed a couple of crucial kicks, and as a result Myler was recalled to the starting fly-half berth.

"We decided to go with Stephen Myler this week," Mallinder said. "He is an outstanding goal-kicker and is an excellent kicker out of the hand and it paid dividends today."

Tony Hanks, Mallinder's Sale counterpart, was frustrated by the defeat and critical of referee Greg Garner. He said: "I am disappointed that we didn't come out of this game with a win. It is a very difficult place to come, for Northampton are a good side and a really good benchmark.

"Not many sides will come here and pick up a bonus point but I don't like losing and we are not one of those sides who come away and are happy just to lose with a bonus point picked up.

"We have no complaints about the yellow cards [Andrew Sheridan for killing the ball and Sam Tuitupou for a high tackle] but the referee was inconsistent and we felt that yellow cards should have been awarded against them at certain stages."

Hanks also believes that his side should have made more of their attacking chances. "Towards the end of the game I was disappointed that we didn't keep the ball in hand, but our youngsters wrongly took the safe option and kicked the ball away," he said.

"We have come a long way since the beginning of the season and I want us to continue to play with the same attitude and energy and we will give anyone a game."