WORCESTER Warriors took a big step towards safety – but hat-trick hero Josh Adams insisted: "We cannot let our standards slip."

Adams scored all three of his tries in the second half at Sixways as Warriors produced a superb performance to beat play-off chasing Sale Sharks 39-17 on Saturday.

The five-try victory takes Worcester seven points clear of bottom club Newcastle Falcons who lost 27-22 to relegation rivals Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park on Friday.

But with three matches left and 15 points to play for Adams has urged his team-mates not to take their foot off the gas as they look to retain their Gallagher Premiership status.

“It was a great game for us,” said Adams who became only the second Warriors player to notch a treble in the top-flight.

“The importance of the game was massive.

“We needed to come out of that with five points which we did.

“We played with a lot of emotion due to what was at stake and I think that really reflected in how we played. It was a good team performance in the end.”

Adams admitted inconsistency had become a “bit of a problem” for Warriors who went down 28-16 at Wasps last weekend and did not want to see his side’s performance level dip again this season.

“It’s always difficult in these situations sometimes coming off the back of a loss to try to turn it around the following week,” said the 23-year-old wing.

“I think our week’s preparation definitely helped.

“We had a really good training week which reflected in how we played and now we have got a good bonus point victory under our belts.

“We can take this next week off, reflect on it and then look towards Gloucester in a fortnight’s time back here at Sixways which we are excited about that.”

Asked why Warriors struggled to play their best every week, Adams said: “It is hard to put your finger on one specific thing.

“Inconsistency has been a bit of a problem for us over the past couple of seasons.

“One week we can beat any team and run Sarries and Exeter close.

“It’s sometimes difficult to follow up a good performance but that’s our challenge now.

“Over the next three games we cannot let our standards slip so we need to take what we have done here into the Gloucester game and keep building.”

Warriors tackle Gloucester at Sixways on Sunday, April 28 before visiting Northampton Saints on Saturday, May 4. They will then wrap up the season with a home clash with Saracens on Saturday, May 18.

“(A seven-point gap) is obviously a lot better than two which it was before the game,” Adams said.

“But in this competition you can never take your foot off the gas.

“Newcastle have got three games to go and if they win all three and we don’t then all of sudden we are right back down at the bottom.

“We have got to take every game as it comes.

“We have now got to focus on Gloucester in a fortnight’s time which is going to be a massive occasion here.

“It’s a derby and it’s something we can look forward to.

“We have got Gloucester Northampton and Sarries so it’s a tough run-in without a doubt.

“But there’s no reason why we can’t go out there and win all three if we play like we did on Saturday. I have got full confidence in our squad.”