Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall admitted it was a 'big relief' to overcome Harlequins after his side's 18-16 victory at the Stoop.

The Men in Black have been in mixed form of late after drawing to Leicester at home before losing against Exeter last week.

The club have not had a three-game losing run in the competition since March 2010 and McCall revealed the group had held some frank conversations this week in training.

McCall said: "It's a big relief (to win) and it was also a big relief when you think we've kind of lost ourselves a bit recently.

"We had a meeting on Monday where we talked about our values, what we were about as a club and whatever way the game went I just thought we found ourselves today.

"We were back to what we're about - fighting hard for each other and there was a real energy from one man to the next and that was the most pleasing thing for me."

Up next for Saracens in the league is London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium next Sunday.