Small Man Peaky:, external Saracens doing very well. Saints were out of it by this point. Clermont not looking very confident. Itoje and BV frightening.

Image source, Getty Images

It always threatened to be tight, and so it is proving. Saracens are swarming up in defence to halt the big Clermont runners and with the French side unable to generate much momentum, the rhythm has gone out of their game.

In the middle of the half it looked as though they had gained the upper hand, but under 'cussed' in the dictionary it says 'see Saracens' and a combination of their sheer bloody-mindedness, the power of the Vunipola brothers and Itoje with ball in hand, and Clermont misdeeds mean it is the Londoners who take a narrow lead into the changing rooms at the break.

The Clermont crowd do not like that - a chorus of boos rains down from the stands as the French team's pack is penalised for walking round the side at a scrum... but Hodgson's kick slides wide.

Sarries win a line-out, drive and Vahaamahina illegally enters the maul at the side...

Up steps Hodgson from a similar position to his last attempt, and this time he finds the target. Saracens lead.

Mesmeric from Saracens full-back Alex Goode - he has the feet of a conjuror, ghosting past three men to get the Londoners into the Clermont 22, but another attack comes to a halt.

No lack of attacking intent out there, but defences are still on top.

Tackling Maro Itoje in full flight looks much like taking a sledgehammer to the shoulder...

And he's still only 20.

Here comes Ashton on the counter, he slides through a gap and Pierre fails to roll away from the tackle.

Up steps Hodgson... and his kick falls just wide.

Clermont enjoying the best of the territory and possession at the moment and as they hammer away they earn a penalty as Jim Hamilton goes off his feet at a ruck.

Up steps the sometimes flaky Clermont fly-half James, and a nervy kick just goes over off a post.

Jeff Mealiff: , externalWhat a joke, clearly a no arm tackle by Ashton, that's a yellow and a penalty try

Callum Johnstone:, external ‏Referee and assistants have had a shocker there, a simple decision missed! #bbcrugby

Nye Williams: , externalTerrible TMO work - has to be penalty try & even maybe a yellow for Ashton. Liam Williams paid a similar price for Wales vs. SA

Yep Nye, cost Wales that long-awaited win...

Fantastic noise from the Clermont fans as they rumble to within three metres. The ball goes wide, and is Nalaga in?

Clermont fizz the ball out to the winger but although Nalaga smashes though Goode, Ashton just knocks him into touch.

The television match official correctly rules the Fijian failed to get the ball down, but Ashton used no arms in the tackle and is very lucky not to be penalised - that looked like a penalty try to me.

It's very messy at the line-out - neither side able to get the pistons working smoothly. Saracens knock-on... at the scrum Clermont on the march and they win the penalty - James to go for touch... and finds it deep inside the Saracens 22.

Image source, Getty Images

Boom! Big carry from Mako Vunipola into the Clermont defence.

A couple of phases later it's baby brother Billy trucking it up. He sucks in the defence and Charlie Hodgson strokes over a drop-goal. First blood Sarries.

Attacking line-out for Saracens just outside the Clermont 22... Hooker Jamie George promptly misses his man with the throw. Frustration for the English side.

Blubber wobbles as the front rows collide at a scrum.

Clermont secure the ball and Brock James pins Saracens back into their 22 with a pin-point kick.

Penalty for Saracens at the first scrum... they kick deep but miss touch. Careless, and Nick Abendanon's clearing kick eats up the ground.

Clermont are one of the most potent attacking teams in Europe this season, Saracens prefer to back their defence and kicking game before cutting loose...

The Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is a sea of Clermont yellow - not surprising given Saint-Etienne is little more than an hour east of Clermont.

The French side press early and fly-half Brock James cloths a drop-goal wide of the sticks.

John McEnerney: , externalClermont won't be caught cold by Sarries like last season, if Sarries can hold on they could sneak but CA are relentless at the moment

Charlie Hodgson sends it deep and we're under way in Saint-Etienne...