Ludovic Mercier produced a virtuoso performance to maintain Gloucester's lead at the top of the Zurich Premiership with a vital victory at Saracens.

The French fly-half had been heavily criticised for his role in Gloucester's Heineken Cup collapse against Munster two weeks ago.

But he responded brilliantly to inflict only Saracens' second home league defeat of the season.

Mercier scored a full-house haul of 24 points, comprising a try, a drop goal, four penalties and two conversions.

I am disappointed that we lost - we had our opportunities, but we didn't take them Wayne Shelford Saracens coach

However, despite the former Aurillac player's match-winning performance, Gloucester still had to sweat for their win.

Saracens were just a point adrift both at half-time and with 20 minutes to play as Nicky Little's five penalties and conversion of Richard Hill's opening try kept them breathing down the visitors' necks.

Hill struck from a five-metre scrum in the third minute, following a blistering 70-metre burst from wing Darragh O'Mahony.

Saracens were an entirely different proposition to the team that fell to Gloucester in the Powergen Cup last week and led 13-3 as two Little penalties sandwiched one from Mercier.

Match facts

Saracens 22 Try: Hill Con: Little Pens: Little (5) Gloucester 29 Tries: Fanolua, Mercier Cons: Mercier (2) Pens: Mercier (4) DG: Mercier

The Cherry and Whites were harried and hassled, especially in contact situations, but got a lucky break just when they needed one.

Robert Todd's optimistic kick rebounded kindly off a Saracens defender, allowing scrum-half Andy Gomarsall to send the unmarked Terry Fanolua over for a try which Mercier converted.

And two minutes before the break, Saracens gifted Gloucester another try when Kevin Sorrell's pass was intercepted by Mercier, who sprinted 45 metres to score.

We needed Ludovic Mercier today, and he came good for us Nigel Melville Gloucester coach

Saracens started the second half 16-17 down after Little's closing penalty but without captain Kyran Bracken, who had been high-tackled by Robert Todd in the 11th minute, an incident that could see the Gloucester player cited by the hosts.

Little edged Saracens back in front with another penalty but Mercier replied in kind and then dropped a 56th-minute goal to give Gloucester some breathing space.

Fijian stand-off Little pegged back the lead again to set up an exciting finale.

But after Gloucester's Andy Hazell and Sarries' Ryan Peacey had been sin-binned for fighting, Mercier appropriately had the last word with his final two penalties.

Saracens: Winnan; Shanklin, Sorrell, Horan, O'Mahony; Little, Bracken; Storey, R Russell, Califano, Hooper, Yandell, Peacey, Hill, Chesney.
Replacements: Marsters, Cairns, Benazzi, B Russell, Kirton, Johnston, Castaignede.

Gloucester: Delport; Garvey, Fanolua, Todd, Simpson-Daniel; Mercier, Gomarsall; Roncero, Azam, Deacon, Eustace, Cornwell, Boer, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Stuart-Smith, Beim, O'Leary, Molloy, Fortey, Fidler, Paramore.

Referee: A Rowden (RFU)