Quins' title ambitions suffered a shattering mental blow as they were handed a harsh lesson in a 39-0 trashing from Saracens on Friday night.

Former England fly half Charlie Hodgson had a field day as he collected 16 points - three penalties and a charge down try - in the first half to have the visitors 16-0 up at the break.

Full back Alex Goode and Hodgson - who took his personal haul to 22 points - added nine more points between them in the second half before Chris Ashton and Will Fraser compounded Quins' misery in the closing 10 minutes.

The manner of the victory, which saw Quins fail to score a point at home for the first time since a 17-0 Premiership semi-final defeat to London Irish in 2009, sent a warning out to the rest of the top flight.

And it left O'Shea, who described the defeat as the lowest point of his time at the Stoop, fuming.

"They were outstanding and we were terrible in so many ways," he said as his players did an apologetic lap of the Stoop.

"It is going to be a massive mental challenge for the group this week. That is not us.

"We were up for it, no question. We had 70 per cent possession in the first half and just kept coughing up the ball.

"They are an outstanding side and this is a massive low point for us.

"You have to take it. You will have highs and you will have lows. We have to regroup and react.

"You can talk about it all you like, but you have to go and do it."

Quins host Wasps next Saturday.