Dingwall gives an insight into Saints' relentless attacking mindset

The black, green and gold kept hammering at the home door after going 14-0 down inside seven minutes, and they levelled things up on the stroke of half-time.

They then went behind again in the second period before moving in front for the first time, but Exeter then levelled things up themselves with two minutes to go.

Saints would not be denied though, with Dingwall delivering a superb assist for Fin Smith, who produced an excellent finish to secure a dramatic 35-28 Gallagher PREM win at Sandy Park from the final play of an enthralling encounter.

"It felt like us just trying to stick at our game for 80 minutes," England centre Dingwall said.

"The start didn't really go our way and we had to fight back with periods of momentum against us, but away wins look a bit like that.

"We stuck at it and ultimately got the result so we're pretty happy."

After conceding two early tries, Saints really took control of the first half and they could easily have been ahead at the break, such was the volume of possession and territory they enjoyed.

"Sometimes it goes like that and the good thing that we wanted was a step up in terms of our defensive movement, our defensive collisions and we got that," Dingwall said.

"We know that if we keep going after teams in attack and we keep trying to put our stuff on the pitch, we get opportunities.

"It might take 80 minutes like it did on Saturday.

"You look at our tries and it takes a few good things on top of each other then we get an outcome.

"There was a lot of times when we we got opportunities and we didn't quite get it right, but the boys are resilient enough and have enough belief in what we do that we're pretty resolute and we keep going after things."

The match-winning try from Smith was just reward for Saints as they kept cool heads in the final seconds to piece together a typically tidy move.

And Dingwall said: "It's just the belief in what we do and the understanding of what gives us opportunities. Those opportunities come from the first minute all the way through to the 80th minute so irrespective of the context of the game, whether that's scoreline or time pressure, we are desperately keen to keep going after the same things and that will give us opportunities.

"We essentially took an opportunity (in the last minute) that we would do in the 35th minute, and that's the way we like to play."

Saints had gone into the game at Exeter on the back of a brutal 43-41 Investec Champions Cup quarter-final defeat at Bath eight days earlier.

And Dingwall said: "It has (been a big test of character).

"Don't get me wrong, the boys were gutted just because of how the game went and we desperately feel we should have won that game if we got a few things right.

"We wanted a bit of a response and it's really pleasing because you don't go to Exeter and win often so to get that win is really pleasing."

Dingwall was partnered at centre by fellow Saints Academy product Tom Litchfield, who continued his fine form by winning the man of the match award.

"The thing with Litchy is that he's been growing year on year and this year you've seen an extra little turn in him where he's been given even more opportunity and he's such a good player," Dingwall said.

"The way he carries, his defensive stuff is really good and he's just grown as a guy on the pitch.

"You feel him more, you feel his collision work, his movement, the way he's able to attack and he's another one of the typical success stories of this group where someone gets better year on year and then all of a sudden is carving up games like this so I'm really happy for him."

Next up for Saints is a rapid renewal of rivalries with Bath in a huge PREM game between the league's current top two at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).

"It's just set up to be another cracker of a game," Dingwall said.

"We showed recently (in the Champions Cup clash) how two teams can really go at it so it's just set up to be that.

"I don't think you have to talk up this occasion too much because the boys will be ready for it.

"We've got an exciting week ahead of us."