Gloucester's magnificent run of success at Kingsholm - 17 successive Guinness Premiership victories and 22 wins in all - came to an end in a thunderous clash with Leicester, who clinched victory 14 minutes from the end with a stunning try by centre Ayoola Erinle.
knock-on as they tried to build momentum and Gloucester countered when Rory Lawson attacked the post with a strong break only for his opposite number Christophe Laussucq to pull him down. Gloucester kept going, attacking the opposite corner with a chip by James Simp-son-Daniel.
With the first quarter of the match almost in sight Leicester drove deep into the home 22, led by Jordan Crane but were checked in front of the Gloucester posts.
Next, at the opposite end, after Tom Croft failed to direct the ball in a lineout with a single hand movement, Simpson-Daniel again threatened with his pace and eye for a gap. But Gloucester could go no further than forcing Olivier Azam to the line where he was firmly held up by the Leicester pack. Gloucester, from the subsequent scrum, gave Wil-lie Walker the chance to launch a cross-kick but the ball was not picked up on the opposite touch-line by the chasing Gloucester players.
Leicester suddenly struck with a move of pace and space to take the lead after 33 minutes. From a lineout on their right they pushed the ball fast across the face of the post with Varndell coming in from the wing to feed Johne Murphy and from his pass Ollie Smith had the room to cut Both sides were more than short of their regular squads. Gloucester, with 16 out including England centre Mike Tindall who came out of hospital on Friday after being injured at Twick-enham last Saturday, were twice in front after 48 minutes and again after 22 minutes.
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But Leicester, with a dozen players missing, took control in the final quarter with fly-half Andy Goode not only kicking ten points but starting the move which led to the match-winning try.
Gloucester stay out in front - just - in the table and, without question, will regroup with six more Premiership matches to play in succession.
On a warm, sunny afternoon with no breeze, Gloucester kicked off but were soon back defending their territory when Goode used a penalty to send a high kick into their 22 where Tom Varndell knocked the ball forward.
Leicester missed another chance with a subsequent through the remnants of the defence and score, Goode converting. Four minutes later both teams lost a player to the sin-bin. Will James left the Gloucester pack for stamping and Ben Herring departed from the Leicester ranks for killing the ball.
Jack Adams had threatened for Gloucester on several occasions in the first half but could never quite reach the target. Even so, the 21-year-old centre, who was making his first Premiership start of the season after spending time on loan to Mose-ley, had to be pleased with his form. But Gloucester's only point of the first half came with the last kick, a penalty by Walker and it was Leicester who led 7-3 at the break.
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Within seven minutes of the restart Gloucester took the lead for the first time to ensure that the intensity of this game would continue unabated for the second half. With both sin-binned players back on the field after 43 minutes it was Gloucester who took the advantage from a lineout close to Leicester's right hand corner. Azam, throwing in, swapped passes with Peter Buxton and plunged over. Walker added a difficult conversion - but missed a more ambitious penalty from 50 metres shortly afterwards.
Goode brought the scores level after 53 minutes with a penalty but it was a penalty from Walker after 62 minutes which regained the lead for Gloucester for what turned out to be the last time.
Leicester now sensed that they could turn and hold the game in the final quarter and with Martin Corry driving his pack astutely and Goode showing confidence and calm under a variety of pressures things began to happen for the Tigers.
Goode's penalty from 47 metres after 64 minutes laid the foundation but it was a magnificent try two minutes later which settled the day. The fly-half, from near halfway, set the attack in motion and offloaded to Aaron Mauger. It was possible that the All Black could have gone either way in search of support but there was no denying the thunderous pace of Erinle who came up on Mauger's right to enter the 22 at speed, ball in hand, target absolutely defined.
Nobody was going to prevent Erinle scoring and Goode's conversion took Leicester into a seven-point lead for the second time in the match.
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With six minutes left Gloucester moved menacingly to the front of the posts and a chip by Walker gave Simpson-Daniel the chance to chase the ball in a crowded area and try to force a touchdown. In the pile of bodies which ensued no try could be obtained, Mauger needed attention after being trapped at the base of it all, and for Gloucester there was no reward.
Gloucester fought on and even when Herring was red-carded with 78 seconds to play Gloucester were still left chasing their dream - and a magnificent run of success on their ground had finally come to an end.
Star man: Andy Goode(Leicester)
Gloucester:J Bailey; J Simpson-Daniel, J Adams (A James 73min), A Allen, M Foster; W Walker, R Lawson (G Cooper 54min); N Wood, O Azam (J Paul 56min), J Forster (A Dickinson 73min), P Buxton (capt), W James, A Strokosch, A Hazell, A Balding (J Pendlebury 66min)
Leicester:J Murphy; T Varndell, A Erinle, A Mauger, O Smith; A Goode, C Laussucq; M Ayerza, G Chuter (B Kayser 56min), A Moreno, T Croft, M Wentzel (B Deacon 12min), M Corry (capt), B Herring, J Crane
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Yellow cards: Gloucester:James (37min) Leicester:Herring (37min) Red card: Leicester: Herring(79min)