Harlequins 38 (14) Tries: Williams, Keogh (2), Hayter Con: Staunton (3) Pens: Staunton (4) Gloucester 9 (9) Pens: Paul (3)

Harlequins moved off the bottom of the Premiership table with their first league win for over two months despite the first-half dismissal of Ace Tiatia.

A Jeremy Staunton penalty and Tom Williams try got Quins off to a flier.

Henry Paul reduced the deficit with three penalties, but two more Staunton kicks put Quins ahead at the break.

Staunton struck with the boot again early in the second half before Simon Keogh twice went over. James Hayter's stoppage-time try then sealed it.

Samoan hooker Tiatia was sent packing in the 32nd minute for taking a wild swing at Gloucester's Terry Sigley.

When we went down to 14 men my heart sank but we just battled and battled Harlequins coach Mark Evans

But Keogh's two second-half charges over the line - the first from 30m and the second from 60m - more than made up for the host's numerical disadvantage.

Quins head coach Mark Evans then timed his replacements to perfection, freshening up the pack in the final quarter.

The reinvigorated Londoners then drove Hayter over following a lineout late on - and Staunton's last-gasp conversion left the home crowd celebrating what could prove to be a turning point in their club's season.

Harlequins coach Mark Evans hailed his side's character after the crucial victory.

"They were terrific today from one to 15," said Evans.

We lacked passion which is unacceptable for a team from Gloucester Gloucester assistant coach Dean Ryan

"It was a pressure game and we knew there was a lot riding on it.

"When we went down to 14 men my heart sank but we just battled and battled. We dominated and controlled the game and they never looked like scoring."

Meanwhile, Gloucester assistant coach Dean Ryan admitted his side had failed to showmuch of their usual fire.

"We lacked passion which is unacceptable for a team from Gloucester," said Ryan.

"I don't know what the exact answer to that is but in the first half we didn't have any.

"If you lack passion we can't play and by the time we found any we were too far behind and playing suicide rugby."

Harlequins: Williams; Keogh, Duffy, Deane, Monye; Staunton, So'oialo; Worsley, Tiatia, Jones; Evans, Maling; Easter, Vos (capt), Diprose.
Replacements: Hayter, Dawson, Miall, Winters, Sherriff, Barratt, Reay.

Gloucester: Goodridge; Kiole, Fanolua, Paul, Simpson-Daniel; McRae, Gomarsall; Bezuidenhout, Parkes, Sigley; Cornwell, Brown; Buxton, Boer (capt), Balding.
Replacements: Curnier, Wood, Eustace, Narraway, Page, Mauger, Foster.