Another famous Heineken Cup win for Edinburgh on home soil with French giants Stade Francais sent home to think again with three penalties from record breaker Chris Paterson enough to secure a third successive home triumph in Pool Four.

In an incredibly tight group, Edinburgh narrowly missed out on qualifying for the knock-out stages after winning all three games at Murrayfield.

In a forward-orientated contest, Geoff Cross in particular put in a memorable shift to ensure Edinburgh had a sound platform to attack from.

Greig Laidlaw, later named man of the match by Sky Sports, buzzed around the pitch and Edinburgh played an expansive brand of rugby which punctured holes in Stade’s defence.

The visitors, bursting with expensive imports and high profile players, were never in the ascendancy, apart from one period of concerted pressure which led to a try from Pascal Pape.

Edinburgh, on the other hand, spent long periods of the match camped out inside Stade’s 22, but frustratingly a series of pick and drives close to the whitewash proved fruitless.

Nevertheless Edinburgh fully deserved to win the match and head coach Rob Moffat can be proud of his team’s boundless energy and resolute spirit.

Back in the side, Ross Rennie began the game brightly and terrorised Stade at the breakdown – winning turnover ball on three separate occasions.

Frustratingly though, the talented openside was taken off inside the first half with a minor knee injury, although early reports suggest the knock is not serious.

Jim Thompson played with gusto on the wing and was Edinburgh’s most purposeful back – regularly breaking the line and creating openings for the home side.

In the end, it was Paterson’s famous right boot which did the damage and his three well-taken penalties was enough to hand Edinburgh another gutsy win.

Before kick off, there was a minute’s applause to pay tribute to Bill McLaren, who had sadly passed away on Tuesday and against that emotive backdrop, Edinburgh rolled up their sleeves and blew Stade away.

Edinburgh: Paterson, Robertson, Cairns, De Luca, Thompson, Godman, Laidlaw, Traynor, Kelly, G. Cross, MacLeod, J. Hamilton, MacDonald, Rennie, R. Grant.
Replacements: Webster for Paterson (52), Houston for De Luca (41), Jacobsen for Traynor (64), Ford for Kelly (52), C. Hamilton for MacLeod (64), Newlands for Rennie (33). Not Used: Young, Samson.
Stade Francais: Beauxis, Gasnier, Messina, Bousses, Camara, Mieres, Southwell, Roncero, Szarzewski, Gerber, Palmer, Pape, Haskell, M. Bergamasco, Leguizamon.
Replacements: Bastareaud for Bousses (47), Slimani for Roncero (66), Kayser for Szarzewski (50), Ledesma for Gerber (58), Taylor for M. Bergamasco (52). Not Used: Vigouroux, Barraud, M. Bergamasco.
Att: 3,792
Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).