Northampton slipped to their fifth consecutive top-flight defeat on the road as Ryan's men ran in four tries in a 33-10 win at Kingsholm.

It left Saints 10th in the Premiership with just three points from their past five league games. But after seeing bottom side Bristol and now Saints close up in the last two weeks, Ryan does not think they are in any relegation trouble.

The former England No.8 said: "I have no doubts that Saints will be here next season and won't get dragged into a relegation fight. If they keep playing like that they will win more games than they lose.

"I thought they had good, commendable ambition. They have got good players. We are a side in good form at the moment, so to come here and maintain that ambition I think deserves a lot of credit.

"If they play like that, they will score tries against other teams and that has been proven over the last few weeks."

Ryan believes director of rugby Jim Mallinder is moving Saints in the right direction, and feels it is just experience of top-flight rugby that is needed.

Ryan added: "Some of their players need to play at this level a bit more to understand what they can and can't do, but at the same time if you don't have that ambition you will not find that out."

Scott Gray scored Saints' only try with Iain Balshaw, Lesley Vainikolo, Luke Narraway and Olly Barkley scoring for Gloucester and Ryan felt the introduction of England playmaker Barkley at inside centre for the injured Anthony Allen after two minutes was crucial.

"The first 40 minutes were outstanding from us," said Ryan. "Ryan Lamb was outstanding for 80 minutes and we saw more of the Olly Barkley we brought here from Bath."