Geordan Murphy says the Leicester Tigers were “gutted” by the performance and the defeat at Northampton Saints on Saturday.

After leading 10-7 during the first half with a try from Guy Thompson, Tigers eventually lost 36-13 as Saints ran in five tries.

“I’m incredibly disappointed,” said head coach Murphy. “We’re gutted that we didn’t really do anything we aspired to and talked about.

“Our set-piece didn’t function as well as we would like, we were starved of ball, Saints scored from some of our mistakes and that was costly.

“We had opportunities in the first half in their territory and didn’t execute anything. We turned ball over five times in the first 10 minutes. Full credit to Saints, they were better in every aspect.”

From 10-7 up in 23 minutes, Tigers scored only three further points as Saints pulled away to go top of the Gallagher Premiership table after five rounds.

“We didn’t play a huge amount of territory,” added Murphy. “Naiyaravoro was particularly strong for them and the score just before half-time was probably a pivotal moment.

“At 17-10 we’re in it but missed an opportunity in attack and the next thing they go the length of the field and we’re under our own sticks two scores down. Big moments like that hurt you.

“Saints were clinical and ruthless when they got an opportunity and we weren’t.”

Tigers now go back into Europe with back-to-back games against Calvisano but are awaiting assessment of a knee injury picked up by Jonah Holmes in the first half at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.