GEORDAN Murphy is keeping the survival champagne on ice until Tigers are 100 per cent sure of their Premiership safety despite the “massive” triumph at Kingston Park.
Victory, on a night of tension and drama, over a Falcons side now staring into the relegation abyss eased Leicester's nightmare scenario of dropping out of the top flight for the first time.
Guy Thompson was the unlikely hero, producing one of the best No.8 performances this season and helping lift the visitors eight points clear of their bottom-placed opponents with just three games remaining.
The vultures had been hovering above Welford Road as they were sucked into the relegation quicksand, but they could celebrate at the end of a pulsating encounter in the north east, where George Ford gave a masterful fly half display.
Yet Murphy reminded his players they still have work to do against Bristol next weekend followed by clashes with Harlequins and Bath.
The former Ireland fullback insisted: “The table reads a bit nicer but, no, we are not safe yet. We still need another win or two.
“This is huge for us and was always going to be massive in terms of what could happen. We now have another vital game against Bristol and have to get our ducks in a row for that one.
“We showed some great fight here and I need to see that from the guys in the remaining three games.”
Thompson was outstanding in defence and attack, crossing twice.
Tigers needed to turn the tide having suffered their heaviest home defeat last week against Exeter. Fears had grown they could be relegated for the first time and the pressure was on them to perform here.
With Ford pulling the strings, the visitors flew into a 13-0 lead courtesy of two penalties and a converted Jonny May try. But Falcons, under the pump, suddenly found their claws with centre Chris Harris and the superb Sonatane Takulua grabbing tries.
While Falcons props Rodney Ah You (Falcons) and Ellis Genge (Tigers) indulged in their own private hitting war, Toby Flood was the target for most of the visitors' physicality. He had to pass an HIA at one stage after a series of blows in the middle of a ruck.
Tigers scrambled into the break leading by a single point after May had been booed by the home support for charging Takulua's conversion, inducing a miss.
Those boos turned to groans when Flood, perhaps suffering from those early blows, threw an interception and Thompson galloped 60 yards to cross.
Falcons capitalised on Tigers having Mike Williams sin-binned for pulling down a ruck and Takulua pounced for his second try before kicking a penalty.
Thompson dived over a ruck with ball in hand to ground it for his second try while Tigers lost Manu Tuilagi to injury and May had a try ruled out for a Genge obstruction.
Falcons camped on the Tigers line in a dramatic and tense finish, Thompson came up with the crucial turnover at a ruck to leave Falcons in despair and Tigers breathed a hugh sigh of relief
CLOSE-UP
TOBY FLOOD Newcastle fly-half V GEORGE FORD Leicester fly-half
Ford produced a world-class opening 30 minutes with skill and intelligence laying the foundation for the victory. His kicking and game management were outstanding. Flood took some hefty, painful hits and went off for a HIA. He returned only to throw an interception try to Guy Thompson.
