John Brain hailed his ice-cool Warriors as they completed the Great Escape to secure Guinness Premiership status in the pressure cooker environment of a final day thriller.
Worcester toppled Saracens 22-7 at Sixways, keeping them a point above Northampton, who now drop into National League One despite defeating Franklin’s Gardens visitors London Irish 27-22.
Warriors looked down and out just two months ago, but successive home league wins against Bath, Newcastle and Saracens kept them afloat.
And the job was complete in front of a packed sell-out Sixways crowd thanks to tries from Aleki Lutui, Drew Hickey and Dale Rasmussen.
Brain said: “We were ice-cool under pressure, and all credit to the players. We had a plan, and the players really executed it.
“I am delighted for all the supporters and for the chairman Cecil Duckworth. If we play like that every week, then we won’t have an issue with relegation.
“We talked about attacking Saracens as an eight. Craig Gillies coming back after suspension was key, and I thought Aleki Lutui and Pat Sanderson were outstanding.”
Brain was also full of praise for captain marvel Sanderson who typified a colossal Warriors display.
“Pat led the team extremely well. He said all the right things in the build-up to the game, and he definitely did the business under pressure today.”
Tension was in the air at Sixways but Warriors played without fear and Brain admitted a relaxed mood in the camp had played a big part.
“It was all about tying to do the right thing at the right time. We trained well all week, and the players watched a movie yesterday to the theme tune of The Great Escape.
“But you cannot get by on passion in this league, you have to execute things.”