Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill hailed his side's last-gasp 20-19 at Saracens as a "turning point in the season".

Skipper Geordan Murphy's injury-time drop-goal earned Tigers a first win in five matches against the reigning Aviva Premiership champions and took them back to fourth in the table.

In a game in which the lead changed hands eight times, Cockerill was full of praise for his side and was delighted to have gained revenge for the 50-point drubbing at Welford Road in September.

"The manner of the defeat at Welford Road earlier in the season hurt us, and that was spoken about during the week," he said.

"With 30 seconds to go, we had lost, then we had it won.

"It was 26 phases at the end, although I was not counting. I was just looking at my desk wishing someone would kick it over for us. The attitude to go for the win instead of just accept a losing bonus point was good.

"The attitude has been really good all week and that is a fantastic result for us. Players don't play for their coaches, they play for their mates next to them. That is the key.

"We rediscovered that this week and that is a turning point in the season for us."

Cockerill saved particular praise for his captain, who not only took on the responsibility of kicking the last-ditch drop goal but led some clear-the-air talks in the wake of last week's 19-11 loss at Exeter.

He said: "It was apt that Geordy kicked the winning goal because he led the chat last week and has done what Leicester captains do best, which is lead from the front.

"He has been great. He led the players' meetings and spoke a few home truths to the lads who perhaps didn't quite understand how Leicester has been built. He was the catalyst behind that.

"When I arrived at the club, I had Dean Richards to tell me how to behave. Geordy explained a few things to the boys and (against Saracens) you saw the spirit of what Leicester is about.

"They wanted to play and they wanted to win and that is a massive result in our season. We could have lost but we battled really hard."

Manu Tuilagi and Toby Flood left for England duty straight after the game and Cockerill believes they both have a good chance of forcing their way into the line-up for next weekend's visit of Wales to Twickenham in the Six Nations.

"They are in contention but that is out of my hands," said Cockerill.

"Toby's goal-kick before half-time was really important and Manu gives you what he does.

"It's going to be hard for them to force their way into the England 22 but, thankfully, that is a job for the England selectors."