Newcastle survived intense Saracens pressure to maintain their winning run at home in the Guinness Premiership.

Unbeaten since November 10, the Falcons came back from 14-7 down to win 20-14 with a gritty second-half show.

For the second home game running, Newcastle got off to a flyer with Loki Crichton's high kick completely fooling Tevita Vaikona - and Geoff Parling surged through to run in from 40 yards for the try.

There was just one minute 20 seconds on the clock and to add insult to injury Crichton's conversion bounced on the bar - and over for 7-0.

Glen Jackson kicked a ninth-minute penalty as Saracens put the try behind them to dominate the opening quarter and it came as no surprise when Kris Chesney handed on to Paul Gustard on the 22 and the number eight forced his way over in the corner, before Jackson kicked a second penalty for 11-7.

Newcastle were under almost constant pressure and had it not been for some shoddy Saracens handling they would have been further behind before Jackson kicked his third penalty when the scrum folded - although Nick Lloyd looked just as guilty at Micky Ward.

Cencus Johnston's high tackle on Joe McDonnell earned him 10 minutes in the sin-bin and Newcastle scored immediately with a forward drive, Crichton darting through and converting to square things up at 14-14 at the break.

Crichton's sleight of hand reverse pass led to a 49th-minute penalty which the fly-half kicked for Newcastle to lead 17-14.

But, again, it was a case of constant Saracens pressure in an error-strewn match with the Falcons hanging on.

With 12 minutes left, Saracens strayed ofside and Crichton kicked the penalty for Newcastle to lead 20-14 and edge further away from the relegation zone.

But there was an incredible finish with Rodd Penney scoring under the posts - only to be brought back for a foot in touch by a Saracens player, as Newcastle breathed again.