Dowson discusses Bath defeat, injury blows and lifting Saints' spirits

The black, green and gold had led 35-14 at The Rec in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final, but they eventually lost their lead late on as Ted Hill's try and Finn Russell's conversion earned Bath a 43-41 success that sent them into the semi-finals.

It was another heartbreaking European knockout loss for Saints, who were beaten in the semi-finals by Leinster two years ago and in the final by Union Bordeaux Bègles last year.

But Dowson's men still have domestic glory to go for as they currently sit top of the Gallagher PREM ahead of the return to league action at Exeter Chiefs next Saturday.

And the Saints boss said: "We have to pick them up again and make sure we understand exactly what's on the line and that one result in Europe, one result in the PRC (PREM Rugby Cup) doesn't define our season.

"The next six weeks defines our season, going into knockouts, and that starts with Exeter.

"We've said that Monday's a big day and we need to come in with the same energy we'd have if we'd won ready to be better and prepare appropriately for Exeter."

On the defeat at Bath, Dowson said: "I'd rather it was really one-sided and boring!

"It's a great game and it's good for the game because it's got ebbs and flows, momentum shifts and everything really.

"It's obviously a good game of rugby but it's obviously frustrating being on the wrong side of it and having started so well, being 28-7 up and not being able to capitalise on it really."

Dowson added: "We conceded before half-time having missed touch with a penalty and that's a momentum shift.

"After half-time, we take a three and they get on top of us immediately after that.

"The last couple of weeks, our restart hasn't been good enough in terms of letting sides back in.

"There's loads of different little things that let them in and they lead to momentum shifts.

"Archie McParland takes a quick tap and go, is the nine played? It ends up hustling back and it being a five-metre scrum so there are big shifts in the game and that's going to happen.

"But fundamentally we didn't execute often enough to win the game."

On the positive aspects of Saints' performance, Dowson said: "The pass that Dingers (Fraser Dingwall) makes, throwing it blind over the top to Fin (Smith), the one-handed pass from Archie McParland, our ability to take space and run next holes and create pressure in attack is outstanding so there were loads of positives.

"Our scrum was very good for large parts of it and some of our defensive shape was excellent with our movement and our hit and all those sorts of elements.

"We worked incredibly hard. You can't coach effort, heart and a pair of b******* so I was incredibly proud of that.

"But there were loads of parts of our game that weren't good enough so on the balance of play, we didn't do enough to win it."

Saints lost Henry Pollock to a late yellow card before Bath went on to win it, and many felt it was a harsh call by referee Andrew Brace, who actually could easily have penalised the home side instead.

"To be honest, everything's happening very quickly and not to sound like (former Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger, I haven't looked at it again," Dowson said.

"The referee's given it, he's not going to change it now.

"My opinion is irrelevant but I will feed back, as I always do, to (referees assessor) Tony Spreadbury and Andrew Brace and talk about the things that are good, bad and indifferent.

"There's loads in our game that I need to focus on before I start dissecting decisions."

Saints were hit by more injury blows in the match at Bath as they lost Curtis Langdon and Tom Pearson before the break.

"Tom Pearson has broken a bone in his hand," Dowson said. "Curtis Langdon has hurt his thumb so I doubt they will be be available next week."