SARACENS are already facing something of an injury crisis just two games into the season after three of their key players were forced off during the 31-38 defeat to Gloucester at Vicarage Road on Sunday, September 23.

Number eight Ben Skirving was replaced shortly before half time with concussion while centre Kevin Sorrell (calf strain) and full-back Dan Scarbrough both limped off.

Scarbough was the worst casualty, suffering knee ligament damage after falling awkwardly. He is expected to be out for around six weeks.

Glen Jackson (ankle) and Brent Russell (shoulder) still remain sidelined and with seven players still on World Cup duty, Saracens could have a makeshift look about them for next weekend's trip to Leeds Carnegie.

The Men in Black trailed 14-19 at the break, Ryan Lamb kicking four penalties and converting Anthony Allen's try.

Sarries, who kept in touch through Adam Powell's score and nine points for fly-half Gordon Ross, got the second half off to a flier when Sorrell finished off a fine move, Ross adding the extras to put Sarries 21-19 up.

However, Lamb, who helped himself to 23 points, raced away after intercepting Ross's flat pass before Luke Narraway's try put the Cherry & Whites in control.

Edd Thrower crossed the whitewash for Sarries but any hopes they had of mounting a late fight-back were crushed when replacement Ollie Morgan crashed over in the left corner. The only consolation for Sarries was Ross' fourth penalty ensuring a losing bonus point.

After the excellent Lamb punctuated two early Ross penalties with one of his own, the breakthrough came the way of the hosts after 15 minutes.

From a five metre scrum, de Kock fed Ross who sold a lovely dummy to Lamb before passing inside to Scarbrough who hung the ball in the air for Adam Powell to barge over for his second try in two games. Ross could not add the extras but Sarries looked composed and full of options.

Edd Thrower, on as a blood replacement for Dan Scarbrough, then thought his try had come earlier than expected, but Francisco Leonelli's offload strayed forward.

Ross extended the Men in Black's lead with a simple penalty for offside before Lamb fired over his second of the game after the hosts were caught with their hands in the ruck.

The Scotland international 10 then saw an attempted drop goal charged down by Alex Brown, but Sarries recovered well before flanker Andy Hazell was sent to the cooler for a late tackle on Kevin Sorrell after the veteran centre had cleared the danger.

Ross made a hash of the three pointer and kicked the ground in disgust.

Powell and Hugh Vyvyan put in some crunching tackles as Gloucester appeared to lack penetration before Iain Balshaw dismissed that claim with a superb run from deep and was allowed to gain ground over halfway before sleepy Sarries stopped him.

Kris Chesney and Ben Skirving then needed treatment as the bodies started to pile up after some big hits.

Lamb fired over another kick before Dan Scarbrough gifted the visitors possession after his grubber kick went straight into Anthony Allen's hands, the centre taking play to Sarries 22.

And it was Allen who got their try with six minutes of the first half remaining. After committing Sarries to the left, Gloucester worked acres of space on the right for Allen to noncholantly stride in to. Lamb added the extras to put his side in front for the first time in the game.

Perhaps still recovering from that set-back, the hosts then switched off completely as Allen was afforded the freedom of Vicarage Road to burst through the middle and again put the Men in Black on the back foot.

Rodd Penney then held his head in his hands after failing to keep hold of an interception, which would have put him in the clear down the right.

Lamb extended his side's lead to 14-19 at the break with another fine kick.

Lesley Vainikolo, strangely subdued in the first 40 minutes, then showed he is human after all when he spilled an easy catch from de Kock's box kick on halfway. The Volcano finally found space a moment later but Richard Hill took him down around the knees.

Nick Lloyd then knocked on to scupper a promising attack and that was his final contribution as he made way for England forgotten man Kevin Yates.

Kevin Sorrell then drew Sarries level after 46 minutes after some sublime play from Leonelli. The Argentine broke two tackles before pirouetting away to put in Sorrell who crashed over despite the efforts of Vainikolo to hold him up. Ross added the extras.

However, Ryan Lamb dragged Gloucester back in front after intercepting Ross's pass before sprinting the length of the field for the easiest of tries, which he converted.

Vainikolo was then forced off after again being stopped in his tracks by Hill, the Tongan given an appreciative round of applause from both sets of supporters as he made way for Ollie Morgan.

In the final quarter of the game, things got worse for Sarries when number eight Luke Narraway crossed the whitewash after he waltzed past Matt Cairns, Tom Ryder and Hugh Vyvyan, prompting an urgent inquest beneath the posts.

Sarries hustled and bustled and were rewarded when Edd Thrower scored his first Premiership try for Sarries after Tom Ryder had broke clear. Ross made no mistake with the kick and it was game on at 28-33.

But Sarries then shot themselves in the foot in the 69th minute. After making a complete hash of a line out at the far side, Hazell picked up the scraps before the ball was worked out left for replacement Morgan to cross in the corner.

Replacement Willie Walker fluffed his lines with the conversion but Gloucester had further strengthened their grip on the game with 10 minutes left.

Ross kicked into the corner as Gloucester conceded a rare second half penalty but, once the phase had begun Ross asked too much of Scarbrough who was driven back before falling awkwardly, and was swiftly replaced by debutant Craig McMullen.

Ross fired over a penalty with two minutes to go to ensure it was a point gained.

The strains of The Killers hit Mr Brightside blared out over the stadium PA system at the final whistle, but Alan Gaffney and his beaten side will certainly not be looking on it after this error ridden display, a far cry from the one that made European Champions Wasps look ordinary just eight days previously.

Saracens: Scarbrough (Thrower, 16. Scarbrough for Thrower, 22; McMullen for Scarbrough, 73), Penney, Sorrell (Thrower, 53), Powell, Leonelli, Ross, de Kock; Lloyd (Yates, 43), Cairns, Mercey, Ryder, Vyvyan, Chesney, Hill (Seymour, 66), Skirving (Gustard, 36).