Tom Vickers’ Saracens v Northampton Saints view and player ratings

Having won 11 league games on the spin before that run ended at Sale at the end of March, Jim Mallinder’s men have now stumbled a little, suffering three successive league defeats.

Put it down to what you will, but they will disappointed to only have taken two points from those games.

However, perspective must be applied in that the teams they have been beaten by are teak-tough.

Some of the Premiership’s steeliest, in fact.

Had Saints suffered losses to the likes of Worcester and Newcastle in their recent malaise, it would be easier to fire criticism their way.

But there is little shame in losing to the sides they have of late.

It’s just that a run of 13 successive wins in all competitions before the LV= Cup final defeat at Exeter set the bar so high.

As Tom Wood pointed out afterwards - they have almost been victims of their own success.

But the straight-talking England flanker was also keen not to make excuses - and there can be no doubt that Saints would have expected more from themselves on Sunday.

Against Leicester and Saracens, they have paid the price for not exiting their own half effectively, inviting pressure from sides who know how to make the most of it.

Some early box-kicking continually handed the ball back to Sarries at Allianz Park and that kept them on the front foot for long periods.

Saints’ discipline was also way off what it should have been, with a string of penalties proving costly.

Saracens were even able to miss a few kicks and still get home.

And it was all so different to the events of last May when Saints stormed Allianz Park to record a memorable victory.

On that day, particularly in the first half, they were almost blemish-free.

They applied early pressure and forced Saracens back with waves of physicality, earning a 17-0 half-time lead before eventually going on to win 27-13.

Saracens have clearly learned from that chastening experience - and the three further sobering defeats to Saints since.

This time, they soaked up monster hits from the likes of Courtney Lawes and Samu Manoa and sprung back to their feet to turn the screw.

It was impressive from the home side, who are now all but assured of a home semi-final and who will almost certainly top the regular-season table.

For Saints, there is far less security.

They can now feel the breath of Leicester Tigers on their collective neck, with just three points separating the teams with three games to go.

With the fixtures both sides have left, you’d have to fancy Saints to stay put in the top two, though recent weeks have cast some doubt over that.

What is important now is regrouping and trying to build some momentum going into May.

Because the race is far from run and a sprint finish lies in wait.

Saints just need to make sure they have enough left in their legs and to retain the belief that they can cross the finish line with their heads held high.

How they rated...

BEN FODEN

Dealt with the high ball well and managed to make a couple of breaks. Not easy, though, with Saints on the back foot for so long... 6

JAMIE ELLIOTT

Ran up a couple of blind alleys to give Saracens the chance to win penalties. Plenty of endeavour, but not the happy occasion he enjoyed at the same ground last May... 5

GEORGE PISI

Unusually flew out of the line and missed a couple of tackles, but did his best to get Saints going forward when possible... 6

LUTHER BURRELL