Bristol ripped up the Premiership form book to record a stunning victory over champions Leicester at the Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers slipped to their second League defeat in three starts, never recovering from losing England forwards Martin Johnson and Neil Back through illness before kick off.

Both players were suffering from stomach viruses, while Austin Healey was only able to go on as a second-half substitute following his food poisoning bug earlier this week.

Leicester though can have few complaints about the outcome, giving themselves too much to do after their trailed 18-7 at half-time.

Bristol captain Agustin Pichot and full-back Spencer Brown both scored sparkling tries as Leicester were taken aback by the home side's ferocity on a ground where Tigers were crowned Premiership champions last season.

Although flanker Paul Gustard's 68th-minute try set up a thrilling finale with only one point separating the sides, Bristol's nerve held as fly-half Steven Vile kicked his fourth penalty and the home supporters could start celebrating a famous victory.

Bristol were reeling from five successive defeats prior to today's game, a demoralising sequence which left them bottom but one in the league, a distant 12 points behind Leicester.

At last, though, they produced a quality display to ease the pressure on player/coach Dean Ryan, and giving their loyal supporters something to shout about.

Hooker Richard Cockerill led Leicester in the absence of Johnson, and his team could not have made a worse start as Bristol raced 10-0 ahead inside 12 minutes.

Vile kicked an early penalty, and then great work from former England wing David Rees, who must have impressed watching England coach Andy Robinson, enabled Pichot to sprint clear for a try which Vile converted from the touch line.

Another Vile penalty extended Bristol's advantage, but Leicester briefly hit back 15 minutes before the break when fly-half Andy Goode scooted across near the posts and added the conversion.

Bristol knew it was a soft try to have conceded, and their response was breathtaking.

Welsh international centre Leigh Davies, displaying all his strength and power, blasted through Leicester's midfield defence, allowing Brown to sprint away and give Bristol an 18-7 lead.

It could have been even worse for Leicester, but Vile missed three first-half penalties and the conversion of Brown's try, yet the Tigers still knew they had a mountain to climb.

Healey appeared at the start of the second half, replacing full-back Tim Stimpson, and Leicester looked to give him every chance of attacking on the right wing.

Sixteen minutes into the second period, he created the space for centre Pat Howard to touch down wide out and give Leicester renewed hope of pulling victory from the fire.

Those chances increased midway through the second period when Stimpson kicked a penalty after going back on for Alistair Newmarch, but Vile's nerves held through two further penalties on 66 and 77 minutes after Gustard had claimed his simple score when Martin Corry charged down and attempted Vile's defensive clearance.

Leicester threw everything at Bristol, who had lock Andrew Sheridan sin-binned in injury time, but this was Bristol's day, giving Tiger's title rivals further cause for optimism.

After coming unstuck 17-9 against Saracens a fortnight ago, Leicester was not unexpected to lose on a ground where they boasted an unbeaten record since 1994.

Without Johnson and Back though, their forwards never threatened and Bristol were able to celebrate an unexpected but deserved triumph.

Teams:

Bristol:

Tries: Pichot, S. Brown.

Cons: Vile.

Pens: Vile 4.

Bristol: S. Brown, Rees, Simone, Davies, Dewdney, Vile, Pichot, Johnstone, Williams, Fullman, Ryan, Sheridan, Fenn, Vander, Sturnham.

Not Used: Gerrard, McCarthy, Morgan, Brownrigg, Baber, Mayer, Marsden.

Leicester:

Tries: Goode, Howard, Gustard.

Cons: Goode.

Pens: Stimpson.

Leicester: Stimpson, Stanley, Lloyd, Howard, Newmarch, Goode, Grindal, Rowntree, Cockerill, Garforth, Short, Kay, Gustard, Balding, Corry.

Not Used: Overend, Smith, Nebbett, Freshwater, Deacon, Healey, Jelley.

Att: 4,500

Ref: Chris White (RFU).