Luther Burrell has admitted that Northampton Saints needed a "huge performance" to beat Leicester Tigers despite playing much of the game with 14 men.
The hosts saw captain Dylan Hartley sent off for elbowing Leicester centre Matt Smith in the 17th minute.
Head coach Jim Mallinder was forced to sacrifice centre Tom Stephenson to replace Hartley at hooker, but Burrell produced a match-winning display as Northampton won 23-19.
Burrell told the Northampton Chronicle & Echo: "It was a huge performance. I take my hat off to every single player who took part in it.
"To go down to 14 men and put in that sort of performance is amazing to be part of.
"That's the benchmark of what it means to play for this club; every time we put our shirt on we're very proud."
Northampton's win over their local rivals leaves the Saints two points clear of Bath at the top of the Aviva Premiership.
