Leicester Tigers Head Coach Richard Wigglesworth highlighted the guts and determination of his players to help secure a six-point victory over Saracens at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Speaking after the return to Gallagher Premiership action following a fortnight without a fixture, Wigglesworth was complimentary of his team's effort while honest in his appraisal of the 80-minute performance.
"It was a nerve-racking end, yes, we've been there a few times this season in a position where we should win the game and haven't done so," he said.
"But today, we hung on through guts, determination and a willingness to keep turning up for one another.
"We didn't play well enough for a large portion of that game but the fight - for one another - was immense and I am proud of the players for that."
Tigers were unable to add to the scoreboard in the second-half but turned up defensively, which Wigglesworth said was just reward for recent training efforts.
"For the goal line defence to be that good, it was great to see," said Wigglesworth.
"We have worked hard on it for the last couple of weeks, under Matt Everard, and if you keep turning up then things happen for you and we saw that today.
"I was really impressed by the effort for each other in defence today, it was great."
Speaking about the performance, he added: "That first half an hour we played very well and showed the kind of team we can be."
"What we need to do now is take that deeper into games and build on it.
"We can't rest on thirty minutes of good rugby and have to be better, for longer, in games with how we put opposition teams under pressure."
Looking ahead, Wigglesworth said it was about continuing to try and find improvement.
"All I am focused on in my role is making sure we get on with our work and turn up every single day and take steps forward," said the Tigers Head Coach.
"That hasn't translated into wins, having lost a couple narrowly, but today the players got the reward they deserved for the effort they have given in recent weeks.
"Now, we enjoy this together and then go again from Monday to prepare the best possible way for London Irish away."
