Sale head coach Mike Brewer admitted his side were fortunate to come from behind and beat Harlequins 21-17 on Friday.
"I don't know how Harlequins lost that," new Sharks coach says
Sale head coach Mike Brewer admitted his side were fortunate to come from behind and beat Harlequins 21-17 on Friday.
Quins had been 17-6 ahead at the break after tries from George Lowe and Jordan Turner-Hall but Sale built momentum in the second half.
Mark Cueto pulled one back in the 68th minute and after the visitors lost Tomas Vallejos to the sin-bin, Kyle Tonetti touched down a neat kick from Nick Macleod to seal victory late on.
The Sharks might have struggled to find a way back under similar circumstances last season but since the former New Zealand captain has taken over, they have won two out of their opening three games.
Despite the latest success, though, Brewer said: "Our game management was poor and defensively we were poor. In all honesty I don't know how Harlequins lost that.
"We created opportunities yet too often tried playing miracle balls - but we certainly finished a lot stronger and that played a big part in it.
"I said to the guys 'that was a bottom-six performance from both teams and we need to improve on it'."
Angry
Meanwhile, angry Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea said his side got exactly what they deserved.
The visitors, who were missing England scrum-half Danny Care due to injury, gave away too many penalties and Ollie Smith's 50th-minute sin-binning was typical of their display in the second half.
Vallejos also received a yellow card, with O'Shea scathing about his side's performance.
"We didn't even deserve to be 17-6 up at half-time," he said. "We didn't defend from the word go and I've told the guys in no uncertain terms what I thought about their performance.
"I talked very comfortably about our first two performances and we didn't remotely come near that level tonight.
"We were 17-6 up at half-time but we gave away goodness knows how many penalties and played 20 minutes with 14 men.
"It doesn't matter how fit you are, you are going to be run ragged and I am furious. I've got no complaints about the refereeing.
"Credit to Sale and how they played but I'm absolutely furious and we'll take a long, long hard look at ourselves next week."
England number eight Nick Easter was used in the second row after O'Shea consulted with national manager Martin Johnson.
"I talked to Johnno about it but Nick will be back at number eight next week," said O'Shea.
