Baxter impressed by Exeter's 'fight and character'

Rob Baxter (left) worked with new attack coach Dave Walder for the first time in a game on Sunday

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says he was impressed by the "fight and character" his side showed in their 24-22 loss at Harlequins.

The Chiefs came back from conceding inside the first three minutes to twice take the lead in the second half before eventually being edged out.

It was a marked improvement for the struggling side, who have won just four games all season and are guaranteed to finish a club-low ninth place in the Premiership.

"We've earned the right to be disappointed," said Baxter, who saw a late Marcus Smith penalty earn victory for hosts Quins.

"It's one of those games where one decision one way, or one decision the other way, and that game is in the balance.

"We showed so much fight and character and 'sticking in there', that to me is a huge bonus and a huge plus point."

Exeter had new backs and attack coach Dave Walder in attendance for the first time after he was formally appointed on Friday.

The display provided evidence of some shoots of recovery after a difficult season reached its nadir last month with a club-record 79-17 loss at Gloucester that cost head coach Rob Hunter and attack coach Ali Hepher their jobs.

"I never thought we were just going to buckle today, I genuinely didn't," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.

"It kind of shows, if you prepare not to buckle, you talk about not buckling, you're really honest with each other and you stand up for each other, you can stay in things, even when at one stage it was nearly 85% possession and territory to Quins early in the game.

"But we stuck at it, we scored some tries. I'm a little frustrated we didn't do a little bit more in the second half.

"I think we lost our shape at times in the second half and we ended up just doing things that didn't look like they had any shape or direction, that's something we have to stamp out."