Dean Richards seeks belief from Newcastle Falcons to end run

Falcons were 28-3 down after 30 minutes against Northampton

Newcastle boss Dean Richards says his side's defeat by Northampton showed they can trouble the best teams in the Premiership, despite a long losing run.

Richards' side rallied after the break to lose 35-10 against the champions after a nightmare start to the game.

The Falcons have not won a league fixture since October 2013, a run which now stretches to 19 straight defeats.

"We're a bit inaccurate and probably have a lack of confidence to take it to teams," he told BBC Newcastle.

"We didn't need to be that way as we've shown in the last couple of weeks that, when we have a go, we're not a bad side."

Only superior points difference to London Welsh kept Newcastle off the foot of the table, with both sides still to register a victory in the 2014-15 campaign.

But Newcastle's performances against London Irish and Leicester suggest progress has been made, despite the continuation of a losing run which saw them narrowly avoid relegation last season.

"If you make your tackles and you're clinical in what you're doing as well, we're a match for them," Richards added.

"We weren't in that first 30 and gifted them three easy tries."