ALAN TAIT has warned his Newcastle Falcons players to learn quickly if they are to steer clear of relegation in the Aviva Premiership.

The coach takes his squad to second-placed Northampton Saints today knowing that the hosts need to win to stand a chance of leapfrogging leaders London Irish.

But the Falcons are also in desperate need of points, with just four points keeping them above the winless Leeds Carnegie after six matches.

Tait was encouraged by his side’s display in last week’s outing against Saracens, only to be left deflated when they lost to the last kick of the match.

He was tempted to stick with the same 15, but an ankle injury to Glen Townson means Samoan international Filipo Levi slots in to the second row.

“We all probably had sleepless nights after the Saracens game,” said Tait. “ You just have to move on.”

Northampton do have injury concerns, with England quartet Chris Ashton, Courtney Lawes, Ben Foden and Dylan Hartley all absent.

Tait said: They can bring class in from the bench, they have plenty of cover and they are a massively strong squad.

They have got plenty of our former players up their sleeve with the likes of Phil Dowson, Mark Sorenson, Lee Dickson and Andy Long, so they have identified we are doing something right.”

He added: “We talk about discipline every week and it has to sink in one of these days. It’s certainly no lack of effort from the players and if anything it’s maybe too much effort in trying to get us over that winning line. We’re a good team, I do believe that, we have just to back ourselves a bit more.”

Falcons: Tait, Fielden, bobo, Eves, Amesbury, Gopperth, Young; Brookes, Vickers, Ryan, Levi, Swinson, Wilson, Pennycook, Hogg.