A late pushover try proved pivotal as Gloucester claimed a first win at Saracens since 2008 to serve notice of their top-four credentials. Lewis Ludlow was credited with the decisive try with eight minutes to go – although he later claimed Ruan Ackermann should have got the credit – and although Alex Lewington’s last-gasp score in the corner gave Alex Lozowski the chance to win the match for Saracens he was wayward with his conversion attempt and Gloucester saw out the final minutes to seal victory. It was a difficult kick but Lozowski will rue striking a post with an earlier conversion he really should have made. That said, victory was no less than Gloucester deserved. Ackermann and Jordy Reid shone in the back row but they had notable performances all over the pitch. Many teams have come here, put in a decent shift for half an hour before crumbling but Gloucester remained resolute and were worthy winners. Saracens outscored their opponents four tries to three – they can take solace in collecting two bonus points – but this goes down as a first home defeat of the season in the league and ensures they sign off for Europe on a sour note. In contrast, Gloucester put last Sunday’s narrow defeat by Harlequins behind them and cemented their hold on fourth spot. “I’m immensely proud of the boys,” said the Gloucester coach Alex King. “It’s 14 years since Gloucester have won away from home against Saracens. Players like achieving milestones and not many teams come here and win. It’s a proud day and we want to build on that going into the second half of the season.” Saracens took a slender lead into the interval after an opening half that took a while to heat up but soon simmered nicely. Both sides went into the sheds with two tries apiece – Gloucester the happier having had to weather yellow cards to Santiago Carreras and Ludlow. The visitors had scored the opening try with 15 players on the pitch, succeeding where Northampton had failed last week by boldly kicking two early penalties to the corner, the second yielding a pushover try for the prop Fraser Balmain. Adam Hastings could not convert, however, and Carreras was soon in the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Alex Goode kicked the penalty to the corner and after Ludlow illegally brought down the maul, Dom Morris wriggled over for Saracens after a fine dummy. Ludlow was given his marching orders but Gloucester almost held out until Rotimi Segun danced his way over after another Saracens maul was repelled. You wondered if the writing was on the wall for Gloucester but from the kick-off, Carreras – only just back on the field – knocked back the restart, allowing Reid to rampage down the right before offloading for Jack Singleton to score. Gloucester nosed ahead with a Hastings penalty but Saracens’ response was emphatic. Within seconds of coming on Theo McFarland charged down Charlie Chapman’s box-kick, picked up a favourable bounce and cruised over. Lozowski struck the upright with a simple conversion that ultimately proved costly. Ackermann’s try, which Hastings converted, put Gloucester back on top and another late penalty from Hastings stretched the advantage. Although Saracens got within one point with a fine try in the left corner from Lewington, Lozowski was unable to convert from the touchline, ensuring Gloucester held on for a statement victory. “We’re massively disappointed,” said Saracens’ director of rugby, Mark McCall. “Huge credit to Gloucester for how they played. We got a little bit out-enthused by them – that’s not something I’m happy to say when we’re at home.”