Richard Wigglesworth pulled no punches when speaking after the Gallagher Premiership victory over Exeter Chiefs at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Discussing his own team's performance, he said he "wasn't happy" with all that he saw despite it finishing with his players running in nine tries to register a 62-19 victory in front of more than 21,000 fans.

Speaking about the performance, Wigglesworth said: "I wasn't happy with the first half, not happy at all."

"It's the second week in a row that we've conceded points while the opposition were down a man and we can't have that, it needs to be better.

"Then, in the second half, we looked like Leicester Tigers and went about our business like we should. That was the most pleasing thing for me today, the way they came out and performed how they did in that second half.

"To score 40-odd points was brilliant but to concede nothing until that very last minute was better, it was a great effort from every single player on the field."

When questioned by media on his side's bounce back from a poor start to the season, amidst an unprecedented coaching team change and challenges of missing more than a dozen players to international duties during Test windows, he was frank in his assessment of the assessments on his players.

"I am not interested in looking at games up against one another and whether it is the best or worst performance of the season. The only thing I am interested in is how we perform in the game at hand," he said.

"This group were written off halfway through the season; we lost three Premiership games and it was the biggest story in the world, then we lose away to Leinster in Dublin and it's the biggest story in rugby again.

"These players have been disrespected this season, unfairly, and nobody has talked about us unless we were losing. Winning six games in a row isn't a headline but losing a couple is when it comes to Leicester Tigers.

"All that has been talked about in regards to these players this season is what they cannot do, who we don't have or why we won't achieve anything.

"That is undeserved, that is what people want to focus on when they think about Leicester Tigers; the negative."

The Tigers Head Coach made special mention of Ben Youngs after the game, which was the 300th in Leicester colours for the scrum-half.

"It is a special day for Ben, marking a brilliant achievement," Wigglesworth said.

"Dan Cole presented him his shirt in the changing room and that was special, every single person in the room was so happy for Ben.

"This is an incredible achievement, at one club, and there are still plenty of games left in Ben's career."

Meanwhile on Chris Ashton, who announced he will retire at the end of the season, he said: "Chris has never been short of backing himself in scoring tries and I am so happy for him to get to that 100 Premiership try mark."

"I said earlier this week, he changed the game and to achieve something nobody else has is just another accolade for him that he's worked so hard to reach."

Wigglesworth's own Tigers career is coming to a close, ahead of linking up with the national team in the summer, and he is keen to continue making memories in green, red and white.

"What you want to leave with at the end of your career is a load of memories," said Wigglesworth.

"The best memories are around the big games, being involved in the big games with people you are close with and worked hard to be in that position alongside.

"I am desperate to leave this club with even more great memories, on top of those I have been able to create in my time at Leicester Tigers.

"My role in hopefully making that happen is to prepare this group, a brilliant group of players and people, the best that I can to give them - and us - a chance to go as far as we can this season."

The victory sees Leicester remain in third place on the league ladder with just two rounds remaining and, while they have a bye within the final fortnight, he admitted there is "a shot" for his group in the competition.

But, that's all it is according to Wigglesworth.

"It shows the class of the players, how they have just grabbed the opportunity to do something - despite everybody outside of the club saying that they couldn't - and run with it, as far as they can go," he said.

"Nobody is worried about who isn't here, what is missing and the only thought, the only focus has been on what we have, who we have available and being the best we can be for Leicester Tigers.

"The players have been exceptional for me, at this early stage in my coaching career, and I could not have asked for anything more from this group. 

"The effort they have put in, the way they have led and supported is unbelievable and that's why we are in with a shot."

Asked about the permutations for how the Premiership may look at the conclusion of the regular season, Wigglesworth had little interest in doing the maths.

"All it is now is a shot, a chance and opportunity," he added.

"We haven't done anything yet and there are two rounds left in the competition, where there will be even more changes in the table.

"For us, there is one league game left and - like we do every week - we will go into that one, against Harlequins, prepared as well as we can and looking to win.

"There is no point looking at the table, the different possibilities or beyond that game, which is what we do anyway. The most important game, like we have said every single week, is the next game. That's it."

Looking ahead to the next fortnight without a league fixture, Wigglesworth said he was "excited" to see a young group take to the field on Monday evening at Mattioli Woods Welford Road against Northampton Saints.

"I am excited to see Monday's team get out there and play," said the Tigers boss.

"There are guys who haven't played a lot of rugby getting that chance against Northampton and that's important for them, for their development and for the squad.

"You never know what your squad will look like, each week, and so we need everybody getting opportunities to play and keep working hard, being prepared for if they get the call to be in the squad at the weekend.

"As for the weeks ahead, we just keep working hard. That's it."