Veteran wing David Strettle's fourth try of the season guided champions Saracens to a hard fought 25-17 win over struggling Worcester Warriors in their Premiership clash on Saturday.

The 35-year-old former English international joined Saracens this season after three years with French giants Clermont and touched down in the 66th minute to give them some breathing space.

Victory saw Saracens move to within a point of leaders Exeter -- who only last week had thrashed the champions 31-13 -- after the Chiefs had slipped to a 31-28 defeat at the hands of Northampton Saints on Friday.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall was delighted in the manner in which his players had responded after they trailed 14-0.

? REACTION | "I was bored, I'm not going to lie! ?@David_Strettle (and daughter Isla!) reflects on a frustrating period out with injury and scoring on his return to the side as Saracens ran out 25-17 winners over Worcester Warriors. ⚫?#TogetherSaracens pic.twitter.com/kIxfwgmKrB

— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) December 29, 2018

"Having lost last weekend, not playing great, to be 14-0 down, it's a good test and I think we came through the test very well," he said.

"Today was just one of those things -- the more important thing for me is how we responded.

"I felt that we were then the dominant team for the next 60 minutes or so, had a lot of ball, a lot of field position."

Worcester had at one point looked on course for only their second win at Saracens -- the previous one dating back to November 2006 -- when tries from Duncan Weir and England centre Ben Te'o put them into a comfortable 14-0 lead.  

However, a penalty from Owen Farrell and a try by Mako Vunipola got Saracens back into the match and they went in front for the first time 12 minutes into the second-half through a try by Calum Clark. 

Worcester remain embroiled in a battle to avoid the drop just a point above Newcastle.