Andy Goode celebrates© David Rogers/Getty Images

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young vowed to keep feet firmly on the ground despite his team moving closer to a place in next season's European Champions Cup.

The home side recorded a deserved 36-29 win over Exeter at the Ricoh Arena, scoring three tries through Christian Wade, Joe Simpson and a penalty try award, with Andy Goode converting all three and kicking four penalties. Elliot Daly also fired over a long-distance penalty.

Exeter's tries came from Will Chudley and Thomas Waldrom, with Henry Slade kicking four penalties and two conversions. Gareth Steenson's late drop goal secured them a bonus point.

Young said: "We are now eight points ahead of Sale but their boss, Steve Diamond, will have them up for the fight.

"We have got one foot in the top six but there are no easy games in the Premiership. If we can beat Leicester next up then we can cement our place and go into the last game against London Irish and give the top four a real crack."

Wasps led 29-16 at one stage but they allowed Exeter back in contention before a magnificent solo try from Simpson clinched victory.

"It was a typical Wasps performance, brilliant on occasions, but we caused ourselves no end of problems," Young said. "We were ill-disciplined in the first half and we looked to play miracle balls but we deserved to win as they came into our 22 only once in the first half.

"Joe Simpson's try was hugely important as we had handed the momentum back to Exeter. He has a real knack of scoring tries like this and pulls it out when we need it."

On his try, man of the match Simpson said: "I was looking to pass and they stood off me so the gap opened up. I saw I was up against a forward and carried on and just had enough in the tank to get over.

"It was huge for us as we knew it was a do-or-die game. They are our bogey team and we were disappointed that we had let them back into the match."

Exeter boss Rob Baxter was disappointed with the overall performance of his side.

He said: "It was a big game for us but we were a passive and edgy team in the first half. I am happy with the second-half effort and if we had showed the same quality in the first half then it may had been a different story.

"Games get bigger and bigger at this time of the season and I am frustrated when we don't show the qualities which we have got, as the game had nearly got away from us by half-time."