Jim Mallinder praised Chris Ashton and Ben Foden after the pair helped Northampton to a 26-6 win over Worcester.
Warriors boss Ruddock rues missed chances as try-less run goes on
Jim Mallinder described Chris Ashton and Ben Foden as "quite a potent combination" after they helped Northampton to a 26-6 win over Worcester.
Full-back Foden furthered his England chances with a fine display, setting up winger Ashton for Saints' first try before scoring the second himself.
The duo's efforts helped the visitors, who have now won eight on the bounce in all competitions, come out on top in the Guinness Premiership clash.
"Ben has got the ability to unlock defences, he only needs half a chance, and with Chris Ashton they are quite a potent combination," said Mallinder.
Pressure
Northampton were fortunate to be 9-6 ahead at the break but eventually ran out comfortable winners in the Boxing Day fixture at Sixways.
As well as Ashton and Foden, flanker Phil Dowson also touched down for the away team while fly-half Stephen Myler booted 11 points.
"We started strongly and were nine points up and controlled the game well," added director or rugby Mallinder. "We then made a lot of mistakes in the second period of the first half and let Worcester back into the game.
"But we put the pressure on in the second half. Our scrum got stronger in the second half, it was a good performance at the lineout where we took a lot of their ball.
"I think Worcester also tired and when teams tire against us we have got the players in our side who always have the chance of scoring."
Worcester only managed two first-half penalties from Willie Walker in reply, meaning they have now gone through three home league games without managing a try.
Golden periods
"We were in the 22 for quite a long time in the first half, had loads of chances but didn't always convert them," director of rugby Mike Ruddock said.
"We didn't nail our golden periods where we had field position and pressure. When Northampton had periods of field position and pressure they scored every time.
"In fairness that was the difference between the teams and is probably why they are near the top of the league and we are down the bottom end.
"We dropped our heads a little bit towards the end, whether that was a little bit of fatigue kicking in because we had given it our best shot and done a lot of defending in the second half.
"They cut down our lineout flow and once they sniffed a chance to cut away from us they did.
"It was all on a knife edge and I thought we had a good chance to win the game. But Willie Walker missed a penalty attempt, Matt Jones missed a drop-goal option.
"Those little margins that could have pushed us into pressurising Northampton didn't go for us."
