Saints didn't help themselves at Bath, says Gibson

Saints were beaten 32-30 at The Rec, with Rhys Priestland landing a penalty with the final kick of the game.

Jim Mallinder's men were unable to close the game out, with failures to clear and an offence at the breakdown giving Bath the chance to win it.

And win it they did, leaving Saints to reflect on a defeat that has severely dented their top-four hopes ahead of next Sunday's game at Newcastle Falcons.

"It's a hard one to take against one of the top sides in the league over the past few years," said Gibson, whose try had helped to put Saints 30-29 up late on.

"We gave them a head-start, pulled it back at the end and it went both ways.

"We had the game in our hands on several occasions and throughout the game we didn't exit very well, putting pressure back on ourselves and they took advantage at the end.

"It's got to be ourselves we look at.

"Decisions go both ways throughout the game.

"We had chances to get the ball off the field and put the pressure back on them, but we didn't use them.

"Against a side like Bath, who have got good players throughout, if you give Rhys Priestland two kicks at goal, he's going to make one of them.

"We didn't help ourselves at the end."