Last season, 58 points were needed to finish in the top four. By that metric, the Sharks would need 38 from their final eight games, which feels almost impossible.
In the previous three seasons, Sale had only lost three Prem fixtures at the CorpAcq Stadium. Nobody has fancied it under the arch of the M60 motorway.
But Northampton became the second side to win here this season after Exeter Chiefs before Christmas to weaken the foundations of their home fortress.
However, Sale are still in the European Champions Cup and will fancy their chances of winning at Harlequins in their last-16 tie in April, while greater importance will now be placed on making progress in the Prem Rugby Cup in the next few weeks.
And for Sanderson, what has happened this season in the league is just a blip rather than anything more deep rooted.
“This is not a club in freefall,” he said. “It’s not a team that is pointing fingers. The wheels certainly haven’t fallen off, they just need tightening up.
“No one is fooling themselves out there. We all realise that we have got ways to go if we want to be back up there in finals at the end of the year.
“We’ve got the support of the owner. Michelle (Orange) was the first to give us a cuddle on the sidelines. There is a very strong foundation to build on.
“I’m miserable, gutted that we’ve lost and gutted that our aspirations of getting to a final are gone. But I’ll deal with that and I’ll be good again on Monday.”
