Bath head coach Steve Meehan said he was expecting an improved display from his side after they clinched a first victory of the season.
Changes in personnel work wonders for Bath boss
Bath head coach Steve Meehan said he was expecting an improved display from his side after they clinched a first victory of the season with a 25-12 win at Sale.
Meehan was left fuming after watching his side go down 17-15 at home to Wasps last weekend after an opening day defeat to Gloucester, and rung the changes for Friday night's clash.
In came Jack Cuthbert, Nicky Little, Peter Short and Jonny Faamatuainu while Tom Cheeseman, Ryan Davis, David Flatman, Stuart Hooper and Andy Beattie were axed from the starting line-up.
Little was handed kicking duties at the pivotal number 10 and Meehan was delighted to see the youngster deliver the goods.
"Nicky Little has got a good kicking game and distributed the ball really well," he said. "We spoke about enjoying the contest and the players were terrific.
"The supporters have had to put with a lot at times but tonight was great. I think we have been building towards this result.
"The guys really applied themselves tonight and I don't think you could fault anybody in terms of commitment."
Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones admitted he had been expecting a Bath backlash after their poor start to the campaign, but was disappointed with his side's response.
"I feared this game all week," he said. "Our defence has probably been the best in the Premiership in the last five years, but it's about attitude and when it doesn't work you have to question the attitude.
"No team in the Premiership can turn up with anything less than 100% and the intensity tonight was nowhere near what it was a fortnight ago against Leicester.
"Bath were desperate, they needed the win but I don't see why we didn't want it as much.
"We still couldn't convert the pressure into points with 13 players and that's disappointing.
"They're a good side, well coached, and we just weren't good enough. We switched off for 10 minutes after the break and I thought Matt Carraro caused us problems."
