Sale missed the chance to go back to the top of the Premiership as Bristol ended their 12-game home winning run.

Harry Randall, Gabriel Ibitoye and Max Malins scored their tries, with Jonny Hill and Agustin Creevy crossing for the hosts.

Sale drop to fourth in a tight table, while Bristol stay eighth.

Victory means the West Country side are now only seven points outside the top-four spots, with seven matches remaining.

It was a second successive loss for Sale and they could finish the weekend as low as sixth.

Their strong showing in the last two seasons has been built on their home form but they were put on the back foot by Bristol right from the start.

The visitors gained deserved reward as Randall burrowed over by the posts after they had broken through the middle of Sale’s vaunted defence.

And it got even better when Gus Warr’s kick was charged down by Josh Caulfield and the ball bounced up perfectly for Ibitoye to win an aerial battle with Joe Carpenter and then run in unopposed.

But the hosts gained a vital foothold in the match when Randall’s kick was also charged down by second row Hill, who followed it up with fine handling to score.

Sale thought that they had a second try before the break as Carpenter thrillingly finished off a move in the corner, only for it to be ruled out for a foot in touch by the television match official, with credit going to England man Malins for the tackle on his opposite number.

Having saved a try, Malins showed his finishing credentials for his 49th Premiership try just after the interval as the wing touched down in the corner following a brilliant back-of-the-hand pass from Dan Thomas to open up the space for him.

Sale emptied their bench and severely tested the Bristol defence before the pressure eventually told as replacement hooker, Argentina’s Creevy, forced his way over.

But they lost Telusa Veainu and Ben Bamber to the sin-bin in quick succession as they finished the match with 13, and when former Shark AJ MacGinty kicked a late penalty, it stretched the lead to eight points and the game was up.

What must be a real concern for Sale is a lack of productivity in their opponents’ 22.

Only bottom club Newcastle Falcons – yet to win a match this season – have scored fewer points than Sale in the league.

That must be rectified if they aim to go one better than last season when they were runners-up to Saracens in the Premiership final at Twickenham.

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson:

“I’m not bothered about the home record. I’m after consistent performances week-in, week-out and it wasn’t one today.

“We can beat the drum about energy and physicality, but we need to be more accurate moving forward.

“We need to be yards better if we want to win this thing. We had eight visits (in their 22) and only converted a couple.

“We need to come away with at least a 50% conversion rate. That’s the area we need to improve.”

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam:

“I’m really pleased for the boys because we were bitterly disappointed last week (against Exeter Chiefs). I was very annoyed after the game.

“This is probably the most difficult place to come when you look at the great work Alex has done, so it’s huge for us to be the first team to win here.

“We knew we had to be on it as if you’re not and you fall behind against Sale, it’s a hard day.

“Once they get out, they can shut the game down really well, so we knew we had to get in front early and stay ahead.”

Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, S. James, Ma’asi-White, Reed; R du Preez, Warr; Harrison, Cowan-Dickie, Schonert, Wiese, Hill, van Rhyn, B Curry (c), JL du Preez.  

Replacements: Creevy, Onasanya, Harper, Bamber, Dugdale, Thomas, Curtis, Veainu. 

Sin-bin: Veainu (71), Bamber (73)

Bristol: Malins; Heward, van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Woolmore, Oghre, Sinckler, Caulfield, Batley, Luatua (c), Thomas, Bradbury.

Replacements: Capon, Grahamslaw, Kloska, Owen, Heenan, Marmion, Ravouvou, Lane.

Referee: Karl Dickson