Tigers recovered from the early shock of going 13-0 down to Leeds Carnegie to win 34-21 at Welford Road on Saturday, scoring five tries in the process.
The result is important for us, but also it is important to look at the whole picture with some of the top teams losing this weekend, said head coach Marcelo Loffreda as leaders Gloucester lost at Harlequins and Saracens were beaten at London Irish.
Tigers are now two points behind Gloucester and one ahead of third-placed Bath with Sale Sharks completing the top four.
I think the win over Leeds was a good step but we have to get better in our game, Loffreda said.
We lost 15-20 minutes of the first half but then we got momentum and began to play to our strengths.
We were struggling with some injuries during the game and could not score when we were close to their line in the first half. We have to work hard to keep going and improving.
Geordan Murphy was replaced in the first half after injuring an Achilles, while flanker Ben Herring took a knock and was replaced by club captain Martin Corry.
But Loffreda was also delighted to welcome back Harry Ellis and Alesana Tuilagi, who both saw some action after starting among the repaclements. Ellis has not played since last April due to a knee ligament injury, while Tuilagi has been sidelined with a groin injury since November.
We are really happy to have them back, said the Tigers coach. Harry is an outstanding player and he has been a very important player for this club. Alesana is a powerful player and he can change the course of a game.
Tigers go to Worcester on Saturday (3pm) and then host Saracens at Welford Road on Saturday, March 15 (3pm kick-off). Tickets are on sale now from the Tigers ticket office at Welford Road, call 08701 28 34 30 or book online at http://www.leicestertigers.com/
