Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter pinpointed his side’s ambition early in the game as a key factor behind Saturday’s crucial 16-10 Aviva Premiership away victory over Newcastle Falcons.

The Chiefs have suffered in recent weeks from making poor starts to matches, but they put that right at Kingston Park, with an 11th-minute try by scrum-half Haydn Thomas setting them on their way to success.

It was a win that has all but secured Exeter’s place in the top-flight for a third season, while piling more pressure on bottom-of-the-table Newcastle.

“I think we were a little bit nervy but we overcame that, particularly in the early period of the game, to be ambitious and go looking for a win, and I think that created the deciding factor of the match, which was an early try for ourselves under the posts from Haydn Thomas,” said Baxter.

“That put us seven points up early on, which is just what we needed.

“Newcastle made this a massive game for themselves in the build-up, which I can understand looking at their current league position, so we had to start well to put pressure on them, and I think we did that very well.

“We produced some very good early sets of defence, and looked strong in that department, and I think elements of a lot of what we did in the game were very good.

“Our line-out in particular was excellent, both on our ball and challenging Newcastle’s ball, the scrum was good at times, although we had a couple of shaky ones during the game, but I think on the whole we deserved to win a very important game of rugby.

“It is four very valuable points and sees us pushing up the table, rather than looking over our shoulders.

“The important thing now is to look to be ambitious and attack Leicester at home in five weeks’ time and try and prove a point and show we are really progressing.”

Newcastle head coach Alan Tait was left pondering his future after defeat in a game he had billed as “must-win” for his side in their bid to avoid relegation.

“We have to face up to reality and we had a meeting after the game with the players and coaches about where we are,” he said.

“It’s going to be a tough old battle now and we have to be realistic. I have to look at myself as well, and I will do that and I will have a talk with the owner.

“I will reflect on things and my performance over the next few days.

“I had a dream and a vision for this club and it hasn’t quite worked, and I have to speak with the owner and see what happens.

“The knives will be out for me and quite rightly so.

“Maybe I am writing myself off, but it is hard not to do so after a result like that, and things like that can cost you your job.”