Saracens held on for a one-point victory to take a big step towards Zurich Premiership survival as they plunged bottom club Bristol deeper into relegation trouble.

Coach Wayne Shelford's decision to restore fly-half Andy Goode to his starting line-up following his impressive display as a replacement in Saturday's European Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final knock-out at the hands of Bath paid dividends.

The fly-half, despite missing four penalty attempts, contributed seven points with two conversions and a sublime drop goal from the halfway line.

But it was his inspired cross-field kick to set up his side's second try in the 23rd minute which gave Saracens a lead they never relinquished.

There looked to be little danger when he launched a huge punt but it flew straight into the arms of Ben Johnston on the left touchline for the centre to pass back inside and present left-wing Darragh O'Mahony with an easy try.

Bristol had taken the lead in the ninth minute when their enterprise in kicking for touch instead of opting for an easy penalty goal paid off with a try for prop-forward Andrew Sheridan, converted by fullback Shane Drahm, after they took the resulting line-out.

It took Saracens just four minutes to equalise when right-wing Richard Haughton, who had been denied a second-minute try after he put a foot in touch before out-pacing the Bristol defence, made amends.

Kevin Sorrell's quick-thinking drop-out to himself and O'Mahony's 60-yard run turned defence into attack before Bristol moved the ball the width of the pitch for Haughton to race in for a try which Goode converted.

The fly-half was off target with three first-half penalties but, after Drahm had kicked on for Bristol to reduce the Saracens' lead to four points, Goode restored the margin with a superbly-struck drop goal from the halfway line just before the interval.

Drahm kicked two second-half penalties to take Bristol within one point of Saracens but the home side pinned them back in their own half for the majority of the closing stages, denying them the opportunity to set up any chance of a winning score.

Bristol suffered another blow when flanker Matt Salter was taken to hospital on a stretcher after his shoulder was broken early in the second half.

But, despite having now lost seven of their last eight league matches, Bristol still hold their fate in their own hands as they face another two of the five sides still in danger of relegation when they entertain Bath on Sunday before visiting London Irish in their final match six days later.

Teams:

Saracens: Horan, Haughton, Johnston, Sorrell, O'Mahony, Goode, Bracken, Ross, Cairns, Storey, Yandell, Hooper, Roques, Hill, Chesney.

Not Used: Marsters, R. Russell, Benazzi, Skirving, Williams, Shanklin, Winnan.

Tries: Haughton, O'Mahony.

Cons: Goode 2.

Drop Goals: Goode.

Bristol: Drahm, Daniel, Christophers, Gibson, Williams, Contepomi, Pichot, Sheridan, Johnstone, E. Bergamaschi, Archer, A. Brown, Salter, Lipman, Oakley.

Not Used: Skuse, Nelson, S. Morgan, Short, Rees, Carrington, Hodgson.

Tries: Sheridan.

Cons: Drahm.

Pens: Drahm 3.

Att: 5,090

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).