A last-gasp penalty by Barry Everitt gave London Irish a vital victory over Saracens in a scrappy match at Vicarage Road.

Everitt was on target for Irish

The Exiles needed a win to lift them off the foot of the Zurich Premiership table, and they made the perfect start, opening their account after just two minutes.

Saracens full-back Thomas Castaignede hooked a drop goal attempt which opposite number Michael Horak collected before and charging up field.

Tom Shanklin dragged Horak down but the full-back scrambled over the line.

But careless errors cost the visitors and kept Saracens in touch.

Irish could not capitalise on the sin-binning of Matt Cairns for punching James Cockle and, with Saracens fly-half Nicky Little converting three penalties, the hosts took the lead at half-time.

Everitt put London Irish back in charge after 48 minutes with a drop goal.

Barry has had a few wobbly days this season but he is a class player Conor O'Shea London Irish managing director

But the visitors' suffered a blow when Ireland international winger Justin Bishop was stretchered off the field with a shin injury.

The loss of Bishop for any length of time could prove crucial as Irish battle to retain their top-flight status with games against Bath, Newcastle, Leicester and Bristol coming up.

The hard work continued for the Exiles as Little converted an 82nd-minute penalty to seemingly snatch victory for Sarries.

It was the worse performance from a Saracens side I've seen Wayne Shelford Saracens coach

But the tables turned and it was Saracens who paid the price for an untimely error when dissent at a penalty brought the kick closer to the posts.

The result handed Everitt a kickable attempt at goal and, despite an erratic afternoon, the Irishman converted.

London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Burrows, Venter, Bishop, Everitt, Edwards, Worsley, Drotske, Hardwick, Strudwick, Casey, Cockle, Dawson, Sheasby.
Replacements: Barrett, Mapletoft, Danaher, Flavin, Roche, Hatley, Halford.

Referee: Roy Maybank (RFU).