Sale Sharks missed the chance to move off the bottom of the Premiership as missed kicks proved costly in their 19-15 defeat to Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
The basement side enjoyed a fine start at Welford Road, scoring the game's first try through Marland Yarde after five minutes, but they failed to build from there.
George Ford's boot proved decisive for Leicester as he dispatched four penalties, seemingly putting the Tigers out of sight after Kyle Eastmond went over from Gareth Owen's offload.
Sale came into the contest again in the final 20 minutes and crossed through both Rob Webber and Curtis Langdon, but Will Cliff was unable to land any of his three conversion attempts.
The Sharks have now won just once in five games this season, though a losing bonus point at least sees them close the gap on nearest rivals Newcastle Falcons at the foot of the table.
FULL TIME #LEIvSAL [19-15] #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/OeJ3s6VyQH
— Sale Sharks (@SaleSharksRugby) September 30, 2018
Photo Getty Images. Caption: Leicester star George Ford