Martin Johnson watched from the stands at windswept Welford Road as Leicester tightened their grip on the Premiership by making it 50 games unbeaten at home in domestic competitions.

Suspended Leicester and England skipper Johnson saw the Tigers overcome the absence of several key players against a workmanlike, but limited, Northampton outfit.

Apart from Johnson, who was banned for three weeks by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel on Thursday for punching Saracens hooker Robbie Russell, Leicester were also minus rested England flanker Neil Back and prop Graham Rowntree, who suffered a knee injury during last Saturday's Six Nations stroll against Ireland.

With Irish international Geordan Murphy also sidelined, Austin Healey found himself filling the position of full-back.

Northampton were boosted by the return of fit-again internationals Matt Dawson and Budge Pountney, but they could not seriously threaten Leicester's imperious home record.

Strong winds and frequent snow flurries made conditions difficult for both teams, yet it was Leicester who predictably mastered them better.

Leicester remain way out in front at the Premiership summit with a fourth successive league title virtually secured, and this was an occasion when points meant more than performance.

A capacity crowd of 16,000 saw Northampton fly-half Paul Grayson boot the Saints into a early lead, but that strike was quickly cancelled out by his opposite number Andy Goode.

Grayson was forced off for treatment to a facial injury shortly afterwards and although he remained on the field for another 14 minutes, he finally admitted defeat and youngster James Brooks took over.

The first half stuttered along, consistently interrupted by injuries and penalty awards, but the only try of a scrappy encounter was one to savour.

Leicester prop Perry Freshwater, in the side instead of Rowntree, set off on an ambitious run from 40 metres, yet Northampton failed to bring him down.

Freshwater smashed his way through several attempted tackles, and Northampton only had themselves to blame as he touched down for a score that earned him a standing ovation.

Northampton full-back Nick Beal, making his 200th first team appearance took over goal kicking duties from Grayson, and he found the target with a superb at 50-metre penalty just before the break.

Poutney required treatment for a facial cut just before half time, and midway through the third quarter, Northampton were temporarily reduced to 14 men when their French lock Olivier Brouzet, on as a substitute, was sin-binned by referee Tony Spreadbury.

It was unclear why Brouzet had to go, but it disrupted Northampton, and Goode kicked three second-half penalties to send the Saints packing.

England flanker Lewis Moody was injured late on, leaving the field in groggy fashion and giving England cause for concern ahead of next weekend's Six Nations clash in France.

Moody is currently an important member of the England bench, but the initial signs did not look good.

Although they never hit the heights, Leicester were still comfortable winners, their mighty unbeaten home record in league and Cup stretching back to December 1997.

Teams:

Leicester: Healey, Booth, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi, Goode, Ellis, Freshwater, Cockerill, Garforth, Deacon, Kay, Moody, Kronfeld, W. Johnson.

Replacements: West for Cockerill (56), Corry for Moody (80).

Not Used: Jelley, Nebbett, Short, Grindal, Gelderbloom.

Tries: Freshwater.

Pens: Goode 4.

Northampton: Beal, Moir, Jorgensen, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson, Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Stewart, Ackermann, Phillips, Blowers, Pountney, Pountney, Seely, Richmond, Rennick, Rennick, Tucker, Brooks.

Replacements: Tucker for Moir (23), Brooks for Grayson (14), Brooks for Grayson (30), Richmond for Thompson (73), Brouzet for Phillips (46), Rennick for Pountney (39), Rennick for Pountney (61), Tucker for Richmond (74), Pountney for Rennick (41), Pountney for Rennick (63), Moir for Tucker (30), Grayson for Brooks (20).

Not Used: Todd, Bass.

Pens: Grayson, Beal.

Att: 16,251

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).