Bristol Bears vs Northampton Saints

Olowofela is struggling with an injury here but bravely continues for Saints. Bristol build the phases but while Northampton defend well, they knock on in the tackle.

Try-saving tackle in the corner from Henry Taylor – superb effort against the odds from the scrum-half after firewords from Randradra set Morahan free.

Penalty for Saints on halfway after a good burst from Taylor and Grayson hits a good kick inside the 22.

Bird-Tulloch is on now for Francis.

Bristol pushing for the bonus point here but it's Henry Taylor who forces a knock-on from Capon with the line at his mercy! Lewis Bean replaces Isiekwe.

Tough task from here for Saints, down to 14 for the remainder of the game due to injuries. Garside enters the action with Painter replaced.

Injury problems here for Saints as replacement loosehead Auterac has to come off and is replaced by Marshall. We go to uncontested scrums, but Northampton have to go down to 14 men with Ludlam making way because it is not a head injury.

Josh Gillespie replaces Naiyaravoro to make his Premiership debut.

Bristol No.8 Hughes is through the middle of the rolling maul, and the hosts earn themselves a scrum. Saints so frustrated not to come away with points, and now concede a penalty at the scrum to allow Bears to clear their lines.

After 12 phases Ben Earl forces a turnover, but Bristol cross over as they try to play from the back and it's another Saints penalty on the 5m line...

Saints still knocking on the door but there's no way through. Seriously physical stuff here.

Saints are fighting for every centimetre here, and earn another advantage as Bristol go offside. Northampton work a nice move but Naiyaravoro knocks on, so we go back for another lineout.

Saints have the advantage and look to play across but James' pass is intercepted so back we come, and Grayson sends it to the corner again.

Great turnover won by Ludlam and Saints have a scrum on Bristol's 5m line!

The second half is underway here as Grayson kicks forward, and as Bristol make a mess of it, Naiyaravoro looks to go around the outside and is pushed into touch.

Hard work in defence from Saints forces a knock-on from Earl, but they have a scrum on their own 5m line and will need a good exit here.

Haywood is in at the side and is pinged by referee Tom Foley; Bristol's fly-half Sheedy sends it into touch again.

Uren finds touch for Bristol just outside the 22, but Saints' lineout is messy and under some pressure, Francis overcooks a kick into touch.

A number of phases for Saints as they build the pressure, but it's knocked on as Moon attempts an offload and Bristol are given the scrum.

Saints have a free ball and Francis tries a crossfield kick to Gibson! Bristol concede another penalty and Saints opt for the corner.

Francis takes a brilliant high ball and Ludlam then makes a break. Signs of life for Saints and they're up to the 22...

Saints are penalised at the scrum but Sheedy's kick hits the post! Grayson clears from the 22 and Saints win back the ball just inside their half.

Hobbs-Awoyemi takes a knock so on comes Nick Auterac for Saints.

Break for Bristol as a loose ball hits Tom Foley and they get the scrum inside Northampton's half.

A crazy passage of play as Gibson darts down the outside from deep, but can't find Olowofela inside him. Bristol hit back and come close to scoring again but Thacker is snarled up and Saints win a penalty to clear.

Gibson goes off his feet on halfway and Bears kick into Saints territory again.

Francis looks to have put an inch-perfect kick over the top but it's adjudged to have just gone out on the full. Saints force another turnover and kick again, but on the next phase Earl goes through a gap and feeds Uren for Bristol's third.

Bristol can't get this maul going, but Saints concede another penalty in the melee. 

Sheedy makes a good break from deep and as Naiyaravoro makes a big hit on Hughes, Saints are pinged on the floor and find themselves back on their own 5m line again.

Olowofela is so close to intercepting but just misses it! Bristol take full advantage with one man out of the line and a few offloads take them 5m short. Bears awarded a penalty off the back of the break, but good work from Saints to stop the attack as they had the advantage.

Saints find some space down the left and Naiyaravoro is away! The big winger is stopped by Piutau, but a good box kick from Tom James just stays in before going into touch and the visitors have good territory.

No try for the hosts as Piutau touches down on the line and Grayson clears – and Saints win a penalty inside Bristol's half as Ludlam gets over the ball!

Saints do well to stop an early rolling maul, but after Hughes trucks it up Randradra grubbers through and we have a TMO decision after Piutau claims a touchdown...

Ten minutes to kick-off then and both teams head into the sheds after the warm-up. It's a still evening here in Bristol; some clouds overhead but not a breath of wind or a hint of rain, for now.

Here are your Saints for this evening's clash...

SAINTS: Freeman, Olowofela, Dingwall, Francis, Naiyaravoro, Grayson, James; Hobbs-Awoyemi, Haywood, Painter, Moon, Isiekwe, Gibson, Ludlam (c), Adendorff
Replacements: Marshall, Auterac, Garside, Bean, Uru, Taylor, Bird-Tulloch, Gillespie

Boyd has given some opportunities to some of his youngsters tonight with Tommy Freeman starting at fullback, Ryan Olowofela again entrusted on the wing, and Tom James making his first start for Saints at scrum-half. Josh Gillespie is set for a Gallagher Premiership debut if he comes off the bench, with Northampton's replacements boasting an average age of just 23.

A reminder of how our opponents line up this evening...

BRISTOL: C Piutau, Morahan, Radradra, O'Conor, Leiua, Sheedy (c), Uren; Woolmore, Thacker, Sinckler, Attwood, Joyce, Vui, Earl, Hughes
Replacements: Capon, Y Thomas, McCabe, Luatua, D Thomas, Cook, Malins, Lloyd

Welcome to Ashton Gate for tonight's Gallagher Premiership clash against Bristol Bears. Chris Boyd has been the first to admit that Saints' results since the restart have been unacceptable – can the men in Black, Green and Gold turn their fortunes around this evening?