Newcastle 14-20 Exeter: The visitors' head coach Ali Hepher said they got a 'monkey off our back' with their first Premiership away win for 13 months, while condemning the hosts to a seventh straight defeat

Head coach Ali Hepher admitted Exeter were relieved to get 'the monkey off the back' with a first away win in the Premiership for 13 months as they handed struggling Newcastle a seventh successive loss.

Exeter's much needed win on the road takes them back up to third in the Premiership and Hepher said: 'Hopefully, the monkey is off the back and this gives the group confidence but there is a still a lot more to do.

'It is nice to get that win and although we controlled large parts of the game but we couldn't get over the line. They went hard at the break down and had a clear tactic to strip the ball. 

'It was a tough game and Newcastle fought us in every area. We had to battle to get through.'

Newcastle Head coach Alex Codling had strong words for his team, stating: 'No one wants a win more than me and we showed a lot of courage to come back after going behind and then leading 14-5 we should win that game. 

'But at the moment we make some really basic errors and they will kill you at any level. Fundamentally, that is not acceptable. Now we go to Leicester – one of the toughest grounds in the country.'

Newcastle were unhappy with the blow flanker Guy Pepper took in a ruck that forced him off and this removed a player who was causing Exeter problems at the break down where they conceded 13 turnovers.

England boss Steve Borthwick was in the crowd and saw out of favour Henry Slade show his versatility at full back having moved from the mid-field when the Exeter backs suffered two injuries. 

Slade scored a second half try but had an indifferent day off the kicking tee and after missing the conversion to take the lead from his own score, he added the extra points after Josh Iosefa-Scott barged over mid-way through the second half.

Exeter had needed just 35 seconds to opening the scoring through wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso who burst through three tackles to score but Newcastle grabbed hold of the game with tries from England hooker Jamie Blamire and Pumas centre Matias Moroni with Louise Johnson kicking two conversions. 

However, they failed to score in the second half as Exeter finally took control and the home side had to settle for a losing bonus point.