Shane Geraghty kicked 17 points for the Exiles to end a run of 10 straight defeats to the Tigers in all competitions.

It was Irish’s second win of the Aviva Premiership season and they showed tremendous spirit to bounce back from the previous week’s last-gasp 36-32 defeat to Saracens.

And Exiles head coach Brian Smith hopes to take the positives frmm their latest success into this Saturday’s clash with Northampton Saints at Madejski Stadium (3pm ko).

Smith said: “The result was great, but we are not crowing because we realise the Tigers are wounded.

“For a long time now, coming here and getting a win has been one of the biggest scalps in English rugby.

“I know this club, they are very proud and I knew they would fight back after last week.

“For us the result gives us momentum and momentum is everything.”

While Exiles were still smarting from their loss against Saracens, Tigers coach Richard Cockerill was seeking a response to their 45-0 humbling at Bath, despite missing England internationals Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling and Manu Tuilagi amongst a host of injured regulars.

Geraghty’s accuracy with the boot helped the visitors take a 13-6 lead into the break on Saturday.

The 28-year-old landed two penalties and converted Halani Aulika’s try during a bright start for the Exiles, though he ended the period in the sin bin for handling in a ruck.

Freddie Burns replied for the injury-hit Tigers by kicking two out of four penalties then added another after the interval to close the gap further.

Geraghty, though, struck back with a successful penalty to restore Exiles’ seven-point advantage.

But a grandstand finish beckoned when Tigers drew level at 16-16 thanks to a Niki Goneva touchdown which Burns converted.

Geraghty nudged Exiles back in front with another penalty after Tigers’ Jordan Crane had been sent to the bin.

Back came the hosts and Owen Williams dissected the uprights from inside his own half to tie the scores at 19-19.

Yet there was one more twist and, when Matthew Tait was penalised for playing the ball on the ground, Geraghty held his nerve to slot home the winning penalty and secure a memorable victory for the Exiles.

Tigers boss Cockerill, however, was angry that number eight Crane received a yellow card from referee Greg Garner for barging into a ruck, while Irish flanker Blair Cowan escaped with a ticking off after appearing to punch Jamie Gibson.

“I thought the team fronted up really well,” he said. “It was a very tight game that could have gone either way.

“Some crucial refereeing decisions went against us. I’m unhappy with how he officiated and it was crucial to the game. I didn’t think the referee had a good performance.”

Leicester Tigers: Tait; Scully, Goneva, Williams, Benjamin; Burns, Youngs (capt); Bristow, Ghiraldini, Balmain; De Chaves, Kitchener; Gibson, Salvi, Crane. Replacements: Briggs, Brugnara, Pasquali, Pearace, Barbieri, Wells, Harrison, Smith. Sin Bin: Crane (60).

London Irish: Fenby; Lewington, Mulchrone, Geraghty, Short; Noakes, Steele; Court, Paice, Aulika; Skivington (capt), Sinclair; Low, Cowan, Narraway. Replacements: Ellis, Parr, Halavatau, Leo, Guest, O’Leary, Sheridan, Ojo. Sin Bin: Geraghty (37).

Attendance: 21,682.

Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)