Leicester Tigers won a highly-charged Zurich Premiership match as an ill-disciplined Saracens performance saw four of their players spend time in the sin-bin.
Tigers also secured an invaluable bonus point in the seventh minute of second-half injury-time as Irish winger Geordan Murphy crossed for the second time to improve his side's chances of a place in next season's Heineken Cup.
Tigers drew a capacity crowd for the ninth time this season as they bid to climb the table for a place in the Zurich play-offs.
In a game where the visitors never looked like a serious threat, Saracens damaged their attacking potential after just seven minutes when prop Steven Sparks was first to the bin following a fracas at the scrum.
Despite a Saracens barrage in the opening minutes, it was Tigers' former Saracen Andy Goode who opened the scoring with a penalty 10 minutes in.
The Tigers continued their momentum with a try by number nine Harry Ellis who received quick ball of a lineout and scampered through the disarrayed Saracens defence to reach the line. Goode converted.
Saracens made their first real threat well into the half when a Nicky Little kick was misjudged by Goode but was chipped into touch on the line by a Tigers player.
From the ensuing lineout, indecision in the home side's defence allowed Saracens centre Kevin Sorrell to pick his hole and dart through under the posts. Little added the extras.
The home side never let up on the pressure and captain Martin Johnson led by example to set up the next try.
Johnson took a risky long ball at the back of the lineout to start a charge at the Saracens wall.
Support was out wide and the ball was fed to Murphy who sneaked down the touchline to score in the corner.
Little and Goode exchanged penalties before the whistle to leave the score at 24-10 going into the break.
Saracens returned to the pitch fired up for the second half and Little's boot did not help as the fly-half missed two penalties to Goode's one.
But despite their efforts, it was a stand-off between the two teams until injury time.
Boosted by their first half lead, Tigers tried to open things up in the second period and could have ultimately cost them the chance of a bonus point, as balls falling to ground became a regular occurrence in the second 40,
As the errors continued to flow in the second half, a flash of brilliance down the Tigers back line into injury time sealed the victory when Goode created the space to feed Daryl Gibson for a golden try, which Goode converted when he slotted the ball through the posts.
Seconds later a Tigers rampage was cut short by a high tackle on Leon Lloyd by full- back Robbie Kydd but the wrong man, Ben Johnston, was sent off.
More was to come from the feisty Tigers backs and in the last play of the game, Murphy was set up to score on the wing and earn Tigers a hard-fought bonus point.
But not before Saracens prop Robbie Russell was shown the yellow card for fighting.
Teams:
Leicester: Goode, Murphy, Lloyd, Gibson, Healey,
van der Westhuyzen, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, White, M. Johnson,
Kay, Corry, Back, W. Johnson.
Replacements: Morris for Rowntree (62), L. Deacon for Kay (62),
Balding for Corry (70).
Not Used: Richards, Gelderbloom, F. Tuilagi, Holtby.
Tries: Ellis, Murphy 2, Gibson.
Cons: Goode 3.
Pens: Goode 4.
Saracens: Kydd, Haughton, Johnston, Sorrell, Bailey, Little,
Williams, Sparks, Parkes, Visagie, Raiwalui, Yandell,
B. Russell, Hill, Chesney.
Replacements: Bracken for Williams (58),
R. Russell for Parkes (57).
Not Used: Croall, Broster, Skirving, Peacey, Winnan.
Tries: Sorrell.
Cons: Little.
Pens: Little.
Att: 16,815
Ref: D Rose (England).
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