A late try from Lesley Vainikolo gave Gloucester a narrow victory over Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm.
The first half was entertaining despite the lack of try-scoring opportunities, but Nicky Robinson (3) and Billy Twelvetrees (2) traded penalties.
Gloucester's 9-6 half-time lead was stretched further with another Robinson penalty, before Twelvetrees kicked twice more to level the scores.
With both sides a man short, Vainikolo won it two minutes from time.
Gloucester secured their fourth Premiership victory on the bounce, while it left Leicester still searching for their first win away from home in the league.
Number eight Luke Narraway captained the home side with Mike Tindall on England duty - Jonny May replaced Tindall in midfield - while Brett Deacon faced his former club.
Leicester were missing their England quartet Toby Flood, Ben Young, Dan Cole and Tom Croft, but Jordan Crane returned on the bench following a pre-season ankle injury, where there was also a place for loan scrum-half signing Jason Spice.
Deacon's outing lasted just 17 minutes as he was forced off with an injury during a fast and furious opening.
Twelvetrees kicked Leicester into an early lead that Robinson cancelled out just five minutes later, before Leicester's fly-half restored the advantage with another penalty.
Two successive Robinson penalties put the home side in front for the first time and a three-point half-time lead.
Gloucester had the better of the early exchanges in the second half and Robinson increased their lead to six, but two more Twelvetrees penalties tied the game with 17 minutes remaining.
The introduction of substitute Vainikolo gave the home side more attacking flair and Leicester's Matt Smith was sinbinned for killing possession. Gloucester lock Jim Hamilton soon followed Smith to the bin after an off-the-ball incident,
With 90 seconds left, Vainikolo powered over in blockbusting fashion, claiming the winning try that required confirmation from the video referee before it was awarded.
Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "I'm delighted with the way the players are fighting for each other, they were professional, they stuck to it and I'm chuffed to bits.
"Sometimes we had to dig in deep, there were parts where we were nervy and parts where we were brilliant.
"I was delighted with the players and the crowd, it was the biggest of the season and we had an amazing rapport with them."
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: "It was a game we could have won and we should be better than that.
"Our away form needs to be better, but if you look at it I think we could have won at Wasps and we could have got another point out of it tonight.
"But we are in a good spot. We are not far enough away from the top five to be worried."
Replacements: Vainikolo for May (58), Pasqualin for R. Lawson (67), Dickinson for Wood (55), Azam for S. Lawson (55), Buxton for Deacon (16), Qera for Hazell (63). Not Used: Capdevielle, Burns.
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