Matt Smith's early second-half try proved the turning point, with Leicester Tigers going on to win 16-12.
3 min: Penalty (0-3) Yet again, Tigers go behind to the first score of the game as Ryan Lamb converts good early pressure for the Saints.
11 min: Penalty (0-6) Lamb adds to the visitors' lead with another penalty as Saints enjoy the best of the opening exchanges.
13 min: George Ford misses the first of his kicks and this is from almost right in front of the posts.
14 min: Ford gets a chance for immediate redemption but misses again.
17 min Penalty (3-6) It's a third penalty in four minutes and, this time, Ford nails it right down the middle.
25 min: But Ford's kicking problems are not over as he nudges wide a third kick in four with the crowd starting to groan.
40 min penalty (6-6) It's a crucial kick right on the half-time whistle though, as Saints are pinned near the left-hand touchline and Ford steps up to show real guts and bring Tigers back level at the break.
H-T: Leicester 6 Saints 6
41 min: Try (13-6) There are only 80 seconds of the second half gone when the key moment of the game arrives. Leicester go through some good phases and, on the Saints 22, Ford's lovely inside ball finds Vereniki Goneva, who has just come on to replace Scott Hamilton. He beats a man and off-loads under pressure to Matt Smith, who jinks to the line for the only try of the game. Ford converts.
44 min: Penalty (13-9) Saints are right back in it when Lamb kicks his third penalty after Tigers are penalised for not releasing in the tackle.
48 min: Lamb misses the chance to cut the gap to one point by hitting the post when Marcos Ayerza comes in at the side of a ruck.
53 min: Penalty (16-9) The lead is back up to a converted try when Ford splits the uprights.
64 min: Ford makes great contact with the ball but pulls another penalty attempt wide.
66 min: There are gasps from the capacity Welford Road crowd as Ford misses the chance to kill off Saints off when he pushes wide his fifth penalty kick.
74 min: Penalty (16-12) An improbable comeback seems possible when Lamb makes it 16-12.
77 min: Any hopes Saints had finally bite the dust as Lamb is yellow-carded for a shoulder- barge off the ball.
