Late change no excuse for Saints defeat - Dingwall

Tom Lockett missed the East Midlands derby because of an injury in the warm-up [Getty Images]

England centre Fraser Dingwall says Northampton cannot use the pre-match loss of second row Tom Lockett as an excuse for defeat by Leicester Tigers.

Lockett had to pull out of the game at Mattioli Woods Welford Road during the warm-up, with Chunya Munga drafted into the Saints starting XV as his replacement.

Prem leaders Northampton had three players shown yellow cards as they went down 41-17, only their second league defeat of the season.

"You prep the whole week with him [Lockett] calling the line-outs, and that's something he's a big part of, but we back everyone to come in and do a job - and Chunya, who stepped up, did a really good job," Dingwall told BBC Radio Northampton.

"It's always frustrating losing people just before the game, but that isn't the reason we lost, there's way more to it than that.

"We're missing the tiny details, that's all it is. You launch better, you get your delivery in terms of your settings better, and all of a sudden you're imposing your game onto them and they are the ones having to give away penalties instead of us."

• Prem Rugby table
• Leicester score six tries to beat leaders Northampton

With three games to go before the play-offs, Northampton are four points clear of Bath and five ahead of Leicester, with Exeter Chiefs in fourth place, eight behind.

Their next game game is on Friday, at home to fifth-placed Bristol Bears.

"Every game now is a big game, we're at the back end of the season," Dingwall added.

"It's another team around that top four, they're playing some good stuff and they're the only other team who have beaten us in the league.

"We know there's a challenge there, they're coming to our place and we've got to get excited by that."