Head coach Alex Codling thanked the Newcastle Falcons faithful for the manner in which they got behind the team during Friday’s 21-13 home defeat to Bristol Bears.

More than 6,000 supporters made themselves heard at Kingston Park, with Codling saying: “I want to thank the crowd because they were brilliant again tonight – they turned up in numbers and really got behind the team.

“We’re doing it tough at the moment – our fans know that but they also see the effort from the players, and the spirit was epitomised by the end of the game.

“The result had already gone for us and Bristol were playing for a bonus point, we only had 14 men on the field with Mateo Carreras going off with a dead leg but we went up the other end and scored at the hooter.

“I know it didn’t affect the result but that told me a lot about the character of this group, because they don’t roll over.

“Ultimately we were a single point away from a losing bonus, but that’s just where we are at the moment.”

Tries from Harry Thacker, Virimi Vakatawa and Gabriel Oghre proved the difference, with Codling saying: “I’m frustrated by the points we conceded after working unbelievably hard, and Scott Baldwin has done a great job with the defence against a really dangerous attack.

“The three we conceded were just a missed tackle on Vakatawa and then two maul tries, which we continue to work hard at improving.

“Those are margins at this level, though, and it’s tough.

“These boys are great to work with and they give their all. I really can’t fault their effort, and I thought we defended well for the most part against a really potent Bristol attack.

“We’re in a run of defeats and nobody is shying away from that, but I admire the courage and tenacity of the guys to turn up every week ready to give everything for this club. They’re absolutely relentless, and there were spells there where we were under the cosh but we stood firm and defended for our lives.

“We neutralised a lot of their dangerous runners but there were key moments like on 64 minutes when we were 7-6 down, and we had a scrum which we didn’t quite execute.

“At this level that’s the difference when you make mistakes, and we’re making too many.

“We’re a young group but we’re learning on the job, and when you think in that 10, 12, 13 axis we had a 20-year-old fly-half, a 19-year-old centre and a debutant from the Championship going up against Callum Sheedy, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Virimi Vakatawa.

“I thought the guys gave a good account of themselves, to be honest, and as tough as these results are to take at the moment, I know the team will benefit from the experience of playing at this level and improving against quality opposition.”

Heading to the champions for their final assignment of 2023, Codling added: “We’ve got Saracens away next weekend so it doesn’t get any easier, but that’s why we get out of bed in the morning.

“You’ve got to love the challenge of testing yourself against the best, and I’m not going to criticise the players. They’re giving absolutely everything, and these boys will learn a lot from going through this experience.

“We’ll attack the Saracens game and roll our sleeves up for the challenge. We’ve got nothing to lose, nobody will be expecting us to get a result down there but we’ll throw everything at it and look to represent this club in a really positive way.

“First things first I hope the guys go away and have a good Christmas with their families, because ultimately family is the most important thing. We all love our sport and we commit our lives to it, but nothing is more important than your family.”

Newcastle Falcons’ next home game is on Friday January 5 when Harlequins visit Kingston Park in Gallagher Premiership action.

Click here to buy tickets for the 7.45pm kick-off.