First-half tries from Josh Hathaway and Jack Clement proved enough for gritty Gloucester to consign Harlequins to a demoralising defeat at Kingsholm as the visitors were blanked for the first time in a decade.

A tally of zero was no more than Harlequins deserved, either. They were sloppy and meek, coughing up countless chances in the Gloucester 22 and finishing on a fitting note with an overthrown line-out. Their coaches will be charitable if they resist serving up lumps of coal this week.

Gloucester should not worry about the aesthetic value of a victory that keeps them within touching distance of the top four. Such heights were well beyond them last season, but George Skivington’s side are a different proposition this term. Here, having shown newfound verve since the beginning of the current campaign, they demonstrated admirable steel in defence.

A formidable half-hour from Afo Fasogbon, who forced two scrum penalties out of Fin Baxter in front of England scrum coach Tom Harrison and celebrated both heartily, was another highlight. Fasogbon hobbled off with a nasty looking leg injury around five minutes before the break, but caught the eye and captured the imagination of those wondering about his bright future.

“He was brilliant; really aggressive, really strong and technically brilliant,” said Skivington of Fasogbon. “He is a very good athlete and a diligent individual. Trevor Woodman [the Gloucester scrum coach] had worked hard with him on some detailed messaging around Fin Baxter. I thought Afo put that into practice and I hope his injury is not too bad because he really showed his calibre.”

Skivington believes that Fasogbon, a world champion in the summer with England Under-20s who appeared for England A in November, is “not far” from a senior call-up. “I’ve had a few conversations with Steve [Borthwick] and he is very much on their radar. He knows what he’s got to do. He’s still a young man and we’ve made the decision this year to expose him nice and early but rotate him and try not to push him too hard. Hopefully, our management can get him there quickly and then it’s up to Steve really.”

Hathaway’s finish came via a sweeping back-line move and Clement, who could have had a second on the verge of half-time, dotted down from a surging maul. Both tries were converted by the excellent Santiago Carreras. The return of Tomos Williams brought composure to Gloucester and skipper Lewis Ludlow personified their snarl in defence. Inside centre Seb Atkinson – another prospective England international, accordining to Skivington – was also classy.

Just as jarring as the bagel on the scoreboard was Harlequins’ concession of 23 turnovers and 15 handling errors. After coughing up one of the latter with around half an hour remaining, England back-rower Chandler Cunningham-South was taken off unceremoniously. Shifting Marcus Smith to full-back for the final quarter felt like one last roll of the dice that could not save them.

“We were riddled with errors, weren’t we?” admitted Danny Wilson, the Harlequins head coach. “In the first half, we weren’t at the races physically and Gloucester showed an edge that we struggled to find. We improved in that area but there was turnover after turnover.

“Credit to Gloucester for their defence but I haven’t seen us make those individual errors for some time. We’ll make sure we address it and know that we have a week to get back to where we can be. It’s a massive game for us at Twickenham and we’ll make sure we get a response.”

That occasion next Saturday, against Leicester Tigers, suddenly seems critical for Harlequins. It required 11 wins from 18 matches to reach the Premiership play-offs last season and they have already let five slip losses. They will probably need to win eight of the next 10 in the league to stay in the hunt for silverware. In this form, that looks a long way off.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 5-0 Hathaway try, 7-0 Carreras conversion, 12-0 Clement try, 14-0 Carreras conversion
Gloucester: S Carreras; C Wade, M Llewellyn, S Atkinson, J Hathaway; G Anscombe (G Barton, 60), T Williams; C Knight (M Vivas, 60), S Blake (J Singleton, 60), A Fasogbon (K Gotovtsev, 34), F Thomas, M Alemanno (C Jordan, 68), J Clement, L Ludlow (A Tuisue, 80), R Ackermann
Replacements not used: C Englefield, C Harris
Harlequins: T Green (J Evans, 60); R Isgró (N David, 69), O Beard, L Anyanwu, C Murley; M Smith, W Porter (D Care, 63); F Baxter (W Jones, 75), J Walker (S Riley, 70), S Kerrod (D Lewis, 56), D Lamb, G Hammond (I Herbst, 53), C Cunningham-South (J Chisholm, 53), W Evans, A Dombrandt
Referee: C Ridley

09:34 PM GMT

Full-time: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Well that is a fitting finish. Harlequins send the line-out over the top and Jack Singleton gathers, scampering towards his own posts and booting the ball into the crowd!

09:31 PM GMT

80 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

I spoke too soon. Harlequins earn a breakdown penalty. Can they rescue a bonus point from a disappointing evening?

09:30 PM GMT

79 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Harlequins lose possession again and Gloucester are going to win this. Tomos Williams is conducting some narrow phase play with the seconds running down...

09:29 PM GMT

77 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Gloucester are sturdy enough in defence and halt Harlequins on the gain-line but some over-exuberance at the breakdown concedes a penalty. Harlequins hit touch inside the opposition 22... and they overthrow the line-out.

09:27 PM GMT

76 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

I really jinxed this game by saying the conditioning were perfect beforehand. A spill from Gloucester, a spill from Harlequins. Scrum to the visitors.

09:26 PM GMT

74 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Long clearance from Barton and a fine, low tackle from Lewis Ludlow on Anyanwu that forces a knock-on. Can Gloucester hold out here. It’s looking likely with five minutes remaining.

09:24 PM GMT

72 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

A scrappy passage ends with a 50:22 from Beard but Harlequins cough the ball up deep in Gloucester territory once more. This time it is Care’s pass to Anyanwu that floats forward.

09:20 PM GMT

69 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Atkinson directing phase play for Gloucester. He slips a pass to Carreras, who tries to flick it to Barton but there is a spill.

09:18 PM GMT

68 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

So nearly another for Gloucester!

Will Evans spills a short pass around the ruck and Tomos Williams spots space in behind Beard, who is limping after his break.

Josh Hathway is in the clear if he can gather cleanly... but he cannot quite do so, and stumbles into touch!

09:15 PM GMT

66 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

It’s off the post! And Oscar Beard breaks away from his own 22 beyond halfway!

09:15 PM GMT

64 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Harlequins think they have a turnover from the goal-line drop-out but Alex Dombrandt has overbalanced and is not supporting his bodyweight. Carreras calls for the tee...

09:14 PM GMT

63 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Freddie Thomas with the charge from Tomos Williams offload! The lock sprints around 40 metres and links with Christian Wade, who is held up over the line.

09:12 PM GMT

62 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Harlequins concede a penalty as Cadan Murley challenges Barton in the air and Danny Care is on to a chorus of boos from Kingsholm.

09:11 PM GMT

60 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Triple replacement from Gloucester. Ciaran Knight, Seb Blake and Gareth Anscombe all make way with Mayvo Vivas, Jack Singleton and George Barton coming on. the hosts need a spark as well, here. They’ve been slightly subdued in the second half so far.

09:08 PM GMT

59 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Marcus Smith is heading to full-back. Jarrod Evans replaces Tyrone Green.

09:07 PM GMT

58 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Another Harlequins error. Anyanwu spills at first-receiver.

09:06 PM GMT

56 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Dino Lamb lopes straight through but that pass from Will Porter was miles forward. We come back for a Harlequins penalty on the Gloucester 10-metre line, which Marcus Smith kicks into touch. Another five-metre line-out for Harlequins.

09:04 PM GMT

55 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Dillon Lewis arrives from the bench and Harlequins promptly win a scrum penalty.

09:01 PM GMT

53 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

That sums up Harlequins’ night so far. Cunningham-South spills a straightforward pass in the middle of the pitch... and he is promptly replaced by James Chisholm. Irne Herbst comes on for George Hammond as well. The visitors needs to change something.

08:59 PM GMT

51 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Anyanwu flings a pass that is blocked by Hathaway and Carreras hacks down-field. The ball deflects off Harlequins, so it’ll be a Gloucester line-out.

08:57 PM GMT

49 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Will Evans breaks up the middle to turn Gloucester but the defence recovers and George Hammond steps over the touchline a few phases later. It’s been a night of frustration for Harlequins so far.

08:55 PM GMT

46 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Harlequins have spurned another chance. Oscar Beard is manhandled by Anscombe and Llewelleyn, stopping the attack dead. A turnover results.

08:52 PM GMT

44 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Josh Hathaway takes the goal-line drop-out to himself and sparks a counter but Harlequins win back possession and the kick through from Beard allows Will Evans to pounce for a trademark turnover. Harlequins can hit the corner with a chance to get back into the game...

08:51 PM GMT

43 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Curious stuff from Gloucester, who have conspired to lose about 40 metres. Eventually they lose possession and Marcus Smith grubbers through.

08:47 PM GMT

41 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Good chase from Gloucester with some energetic defence and they have themselves a scrum put-in inside the Harlequins 22.

08:45 PM GMT

Players back out

Gloucester will begin this second period. Before they do, they’re having one last huddle out on the field.

08:36 PM GMT

Match action

We will get more details on his injury in due course, but Afo Fasogbon enhanced his reputation again tonight before limping off. Tom Harrison, the England scrum coach, is here to watch as well.

08:33 PM GMT

Half-time: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Phenomenal goal-line defence from Harlequins. Clement ripped through the middle of the maul but Rodrigo Isgró, Will Porter and Lennox Anyanwu stopped the Gloucester back-rower from dotting down.

That will be half-time... and will Gloucester rue that? They could have put themselves in a seriously strong position.

08:30 PM GMT

39 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Huuuuge touch kick from Carreras and Gloucester will have a line-out five metres from the line. Huge moment here...

08:30 PM GMT

38 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Fin Baxter really is having a torrid evening. Ridley has penalised him for collapsing now. It’s going to be a test of the 22-year-old mettle from here on out.

08:28 PM GMT

36 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Harlequins get their first put-in since Fasogbon’s exit and it is a lot more solid but they cannot get beyond three phases before Chandler Cunningham-South knocks on.

08:25 PM GMT

34 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

A real shame here as Fasogbon’s race appears to be run. He gathered a ricocheted and had a bit of a trundle, with a step thrown in for good measure, but he pulled up and is being tended to by medics.

He might have jarred a knee... and yep, he’s hobbling off. Kiril Gotvtsev replaces him.

08:21 PM GMT

Match action

Look at that Gloucester maul surge to the line:

08:20 PM GMT

32 mins: Gloucester 14 Harlequins 0

Dombrandt carries in midfield to earn a penalty and Harlequins go to touch but then they spill and Lennox Anyanwu is caught in possession inside his own 22 after Gloucester clear.

Ridley comes to the rescue by whistling for a penalty after someone flew off their feet at the ruck.

08:18 PM GMT

Try, Gloucester!

A runaway maul extends the Gloucester lead! Harlequins were splintered and the cherry and white shirts effectively sprinted over en masse. Jack Clement is credited with the try and Carreras converts.

08:17 PM GMT

28 mins: Gloucester 7 Harlequins 0

Another scrum penalty to Gloucester, another celebration from Afo Fasogbon! He’s already a cult hero here, and he has Fin Baxter in a tricky spot.

08:16 PM GMT

Match action

It’s been a good battle between the backlines so far. Here’s Oscard Beard attempting to get on the outside of Max Llewellyn...

...before the Wales centre cuts down his man:

08:13 PM GMT

24 mins: Gloucester 7 Harlequins 0

Afo Fasogbon is over! Or is he... no, it’s been chalked off quickly for a knock-on. The tighthead stretched over from short range to reward a prolonged period of pressure from the hosts... but he has spilled as he reached out for the try-line.

08:10 PM GMT

22 mins: Gloucester 7 Harlequins 0

Runaway prop! Ciaran Knight bustles right up the middle to a throaty roar from the home supporters. He has support but puts the ball to boot, squirting a grubber that Harlequins deal with.

08:09 PM GMT

21 mins: Gloucester 7 Harlequins 0

Gritty from Gloucester. Their forewards chase a Tomos Williams clearance and pile into the breakdown, forcing a turnover. Seb Atkinson wangs it out wide but Harlequins are across well.

08:07 PM GMT

19 mins: Gloucester 7 Harlequins 0

Marcus Smith looks to send Cadan Murley on the outside but Wade covers well and tackles his man into touch.

08:06 PM GMT

Match action

Here’s that Gloucester try. Beautiful stuff from Atkinson:

08:04 PM GMT

16 mins: Gloucester 7 Harlequins 0

Another clattering carry from Llewellyn puunches a hole but Gareth Anscombe coughs it up on the following phase.

08:03 PM GMT

14 mins: Gloucester 7 Harlequins 0

As I praise Carreras, he spills a high ball. Harlequins put-in on the edge of the hosts’ 22.... wow. Gloucester flex their muscle and earn a penalty! Fasogbon very much enjoyed that.

08:00 PM GMT

Try, Gloucester!

Lovely stuff from first phase. Seb Atkinson lifts a well-disguised pull-back to Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe slings a long cut-out over to Hathaway. Carreras, who has started superbly, slots the conversion from out wide.

07:58 PM GMT

9 mins: Gloucester 0 Harlequins 0

End to end. Now it is Gloucester who are pressing. They were slick from the line-out, Max Llewellyn punching a hole before Josh Hathway and then Jack Clement make ground.

Wade grubbers down the touchline and Green fumbles it into the dead-ball area before dotting down. It’ll be a five-metre scrum to Gloucester.

07:56 PM GMT

8 mins: Gloucester 0 Harlequins 0

Gloucester survive! Harlequins are penalised for going off their feet. Freddie Thomas is gettting the congratulations from his teammates. He was threatening at the breakdown.

Santi Carreras booms the ball beyond halfway and now The Shed sings his name.

07:55 PM GMT

7 mins: Gloucester 0 Harlequins 0

Harlequins applying serious pressure here. Gloucester repelled the maul and then some pick-and-go shunts, but Harlequins picked up a penalty advantage. They went wide eventually and Tyrone Green handed off Christian Wade, but Carreras covered well.

We come back to the penalty and Harlequins are in the corner again...

07:52 PM GMT

5 mins: Gloucester 0 Harlequins 0

There’s an overthrown line-out by Gloucester and Harlequins go to the air, with Santiago Carreras rising to claim. Afo Fasogbon gets a couple of burly carries but Alex Dombrandt gets over the ball and Ridley awards a penalty to the visitors.

Marcus Smith puts it in the corner.

07:50 PM GMT

2 mins: Gloucester 0 Harlequins 0

There’s a big shove from Gloucester but Harlequins play the ball away and cross the hosts’ 22, where there is a little spill.

A bout of handbags breaks out and Gloucester will have a penalty. “Always cheating...” chants The Shed, slightly half-heartedly.

07:49 PM GMT

1 min: Gloucester 0 Harlequins 0

A knock-on from either side as they attempt to get into this game with some phase play. The first put-in will be to Harlequins.

07:47 PM GMT

Off we go

After a moment’s applause for Tom Voyce, following a tribute, Christophe Ridley begins the game. Marcus Smith hoists the restart and Rodrigo Isgró gets up to tap it back.

07:43 PM GMT

Players out

Harlequins first, led by Will Evans, the openside playing his 100th game for Harlequins. A few boos, as you would expect.

07:33 PM GMT

Val Rapava-Ruskin out

A blow to Gloucester here. Rapava-Ruskin has pullled up in the warm-up. Ciaran Knight will start for the hosts, with Mayco Vivas coming onto the bench.

07:32 PM GMT

Conditions just about perfect

I’ve taken my seat at Kingsholm and it the atmosphere is building. The conditions are also fantastic. It’s a reasonably still night and not too cold. This could be a cracker... (cue a 6-6 draw).

07:20 PM GMT

“This club has backed me through everything”

Marcus Smith is starting for Harlequins and has explained why he has extended terms:

07:12 PM GMT

Big interview

My colleague Ben Coles caught up with Afo Fasogbon this week. Have a read right here. The young tighthead’s scrum battle with Fin Baxter should be a fascinating subplot of tonight’s game.

07:09 PM GMT

Fast and loose

There has been a little rain around, but these two teams are bound to play tonight - even if Harlequins have become stingier in the Premiership under the tutelage of defence coach Jason Gilmore. Gloucester will give it a crack, for sure.

07:05 PM GMT

Remembering Tom Voyce

This is a lovely touch. Gloucester are inviting everyone at Kingsholm to share their memories of wing Tom Voyce, who sadly died last week, on a memorial wall at the ground this evening.

07:03 PM GMT

Good evening

This is a very intriguing return to Premiership action. And, as has become the way in a 10-team league with 18 regular-season rounds, both sides are hanging onto hopes of the play-offs… even the weekend before Christmas.

They have each lost four of their seven domestic matches so far this season. Harlequins arrive at Kingsholm in seventh, on 19 points. Gloucester, enjoying something of a resurgence this term, are in fifth on 20 points. The victors this evening will climb into top-four contention. The losers may be feeling rather desolate on Christmas Day, because they will be swimming against the tide in a bid to stay in touch with the leaders.

Gloucester travel to Exeter Chiefs on December 29 before hosting Sale Sharks, so they have a real opportunity to gather impetus. Their defeat of Northampton Saints at the end of November was an extremely impressive result. Harlequins were thrashed 48-24 by Bristol Bears in their last Premiership outing. They face Leicester Tigers at Twickenham (Allianz Stadium, pardon me) on December 28, but need a result tonight.

We are less than an hour away from kick-off and here are the teams. Both sides are just about as fully loaded as can be expected at this stage of the season. Harlequins are missing Stephan Lewies, Nathan Jibulu and Luke Northmore. Zach Mercer is out for Gloucester, which is a blow, and England A lock Arthur Clark is among those outside of the squad, but the return of Tomos Williams at scrum-half represents a significant boost.