Welford Road winning streak over as Saints' suffering shows no sign of ending

Chris Boyd's side struggled to make it count with extra men as Tigers lost three players to the sin bin.

A penalty try did finally arrive during the first half, but during the time Tigers were down to 13, Saints lost the period 3-0.

Hill did finally ensure they would have a good score to shout about with 15 minutes to go, and Henry Taylor also finished well.

But it was too little, too late for Saints who have now suffered 10 defeats in their past 12 matches - and their three-match winning run at Welford Road is over.

The black, green and gold have slipped alarmingly down the Gallagher Premiership standings and things won't get any easier as they go to Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup quarter-final next Sunday.

Saints had headed to Leicester hoping it could again be a venue that would help them to reignite their season.

And after some clever play from Dan Biggar, who booted a penalty out on the opposite side of the field, Saints used their territory to win a penalty, which their fly-half landed with ease.

But Saints were then hit with a sucker punch as powerhouse wing Nemani Nadolo smashed George Furbank in the tackle and the ball fell to Ben Youngs who picked up and raced in to score.

Zach Henry added the extras and despite a promising start, Saints were behind.

Tigers had the bit between their teeth, lining Saints up at every opportunity and delivering some ferocious hits.

Saints stole a lineout in their own 22 to relieve some pressure, but they were being undone at the breakdown, with Tigers steaming in to stop any momentum.

And after Luke Wallace got over the ball in the Saints half, Tigers had yet another penalty, which Henry notched to make it 10-3.

Henry was at it again soon after, slotting yet another penalty after David Ribbans was penalised at the breakdown.

It was an area that was killing Saints, who really hadn't got going and were already staring down the barrel.

Tigers thought they had rubbed even more salt in the wounds as they went over, but Nadolo was seen to have knocked on in the build-up and Saints breathed again.

Only after Henry landed a penalty for an earlier offence, though.

At 16-3 down with 24 minutes gone, Saints were desperately seeking a spark.

But they lost their only fit senior loosehead prop, Francois van Wyk to injury, bringing Academy player Manny Iyogun into the game for his first-team debut.