Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Cheika has reacted to the defeat at home to Saracens.
In a close-knit battle, the Londoners came out on top with a late score by Theo Dan the difference.
"I think we got beaten in the close quarters, in the tight play. It’s an area of the game we knew they would be strong at and it’s a fundamental part of the game" said Cheika.
"We got no flow at the ruck, they slowed us down at the ruck and in the first half some of our close quarter tackling wasn’t as good as it could be.
"In the second half we tidied that bit up, the defensive bit. But then the scrum struggled today and that’s the first time that has happened to us and we were unable to adjust to grant ourselves the opportunity to take some field position and get back in the game.
"Overall, the line out played out pretty well, the defensive line out especially but the last play where we give away the try, those are the close quarter actions where you’ve got to be mindful that you have to win to beat a team like Saracens.
"We knew it would be a battle to the end which it turned out to be but, as I said, we lost the close quarter contest at the ruck, scrum and that hurt us."
After a shutout against Northampton Saints last week, today's match was an opportunity to further the push for the play-offs as the Gallagher Premiership enters the run-in.
Following a break for Investec Champions Cup action next weekend, Tigers will travel to Bristol Bears before massive home matches against Harlequins and Sale Sharks.
"Obviously, we’re disappointed for losing full stop never mind losing here at home" the head coach added.
"The important thing here is to understand what is the situation here that has caused that to happen. Our destiny is in our hands.
"Like all teams, the run-in is going to be pretty rough and rugged so everyone is in the same boat in that regard, probably bar Bath. We missed an opportunity today but we will definitely have taken note of what we need to do when you’re going to get in a run home like this because you realise it’s going to be pretty rocky for everyone.
"You need to take the opportunities you do get which we didn’t do tonight but we’ll be ready for the next one when it comes".
Finally, Leicester missed out on the all-court skills of Ollie Chessum, with the lock ruled out late for a niggling injury.
Asked about the injury, Cheika said: "He’s still carrying the knock he sustained in the Six Nations and although he went through training, got through yesterday, this morning he didn’t feel that great.
"The fitness tests we did with him, we figured it could be a bit of a risk for him to take to the field. Hopefully he’ll be back for next week but it’s a bit of an unknown injury around the recovery time so we’ll just have to see how it plays out."
