The success means they are now two points clear of the Exiles in the standings with a game against rock-bottom Doncaster Knights still to come.

Bristol remain unbeaten in the play-offs and can now look forward to a place in the RFU Championship semi-finals.

Good win

"This was a good win for us," he told the club's official website. "We haven't won at Old Deer Park in a few seasons so I was really pleased with the result.

"The forwards were fantastic. Our power game was very strong and the set-piece was steady. We threatened London Welsh up front throughout the game.

"I felt we were the better side on the day and there are plenty of positives to take from the result and the way that we approached the game."

Back to basics

Middleton felt getting the simple things right went a long way to aiding the victory, adding: "We went back to basics and set down a marker to the rest of the league. Not many sides come to Old Deer Park and come away with four points.

"It gives us plenty of confidence going forward. A dominant pack is one of the pillars of our game and that served us well on Sunday.

"There's plenty to work on but I believe we have more to come. We are finding our rhythm at the right time and stepped up to the considerable challenge."