Luke Narraway paid tribute to Gloucester's resilience after the club brought their five match sequence against their Guinness Premiership title rivals to a close with defeat at Leicester.

The Cherry and Whites may have lost 24-10 but they denied the Tigers a try with some fantastic tackling and rear-guard defence.

Narraway, again playing at blindside flanker, said: "It wasn't the result we wanted but, after the last few weeks, it was a massive performance filled with heart and pride.

"It is a big effort for anyone who comes to Welford Road and doesn't allow them to score any tries.

"It didn't quite happen for us attacking-wise but we were very proud come the final whistle.

"Even when they broke through the first line of defence we grouped. They didn't look like scoring a try. There weren't going to cross our whitewash."

Gloucester lead the chasing pack of Leicester, Bath and Harlequins by four points following Sale's shock home defeat to former relegation-threatened Newcastle yesterday.

And Narraway reckons this Cherry and Whites outfit is better equipped to finish the season strongly as they look for silverware on two fronts.

Dean Ryan's side have five regular Premiership matches, the play-offs if they maintain their league position, and are through to the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals.

Narraway added: "We have always had a pretty good side but you are seeing now a squad that has been together for three years.

"You can't take away those three years. We go out there and play for each other.

"We are probably not playing with ball in hand as well as we were last season but this side is being built on pride, passion and we work together as a club.

"If someone comes forward and puts a hit on an opposition player, it makes you think that you want to put the next hit on a player and you want to be part of it.

"The guys out there are very close and no-one wants to let each other down. That's what we are building our game on at the moment. We have something special that everyone wants to be involved with."

Gloucester did suffer an injury at Leicester but Charlie Sharples' dead leg is not too serious while James Simpson-Daniel (hip) should be in contention for Saturday's home clash with Wasps.