Dean Ryan admitted a failure to take first half opportunities had proved costly as Perpignan produced a second half surge to take the European Challenge Cup opener in France.
Three penalties from Sam Davies had put Dragons in complete control at Stade Aime Giral approaching the hour mark – with two tries from Ryan’s men at the start of the second half also ruled out by the officials.
But a momentum shift and three try-burst from the hosts saw them wrestle back the lead and, despite a late score from Jamie Roberts, it was only a losing bonus point for Dragons on the road.
The visitors had dominated both territory and possession in the opening half and Director of Dragons Rugby Ryan admitted not turning that into a sizeable lead had proved crucial.
He said: “We’re frustrated and disappointed. We looked like a side that has lost some confidence the last couple of weeks.
“We created so many opportunities in the first half. We talk about experiences, but if you don’t take opportunities in France then you will see momentum build against you.
“We looked like we were hanging in at the end, but that all comes back to the fact we should have scored two or three times in the first half an hour.
“It showed a side that has not been playing well; we didn’t get the reboot we wanted.
“Some of that is about development and we’re not going to point fingers about that. We have got to behave in the right way, which is being a collective. We went a little bit individual at the end.
“We talk about experiences and French momentum is an experience you have to go through and there is no way back.
“I expected more from all of us,” he added. “We care a lot about this region and we recognise it’s a challenge.
“Part of that challenge is people need to tell us how it is going to be going forward, what help we need because they can’t just leave us drowning.
“But at the same time, those that are here have got to do as much as we can to do as well as we can.”
Attention now turns to more French Top 14 opposition with Lyon the visitors to Rodney Parade this Friday evening (kick-off 8pm).
And Ryan admitted it was important his side looked to build on home soil with the Welsh derby fixtures just around the corner.
“Do I expect a reaction next week? I was expecting a reaction today and it showed a side low in confidence,” he said.
“We’ll have to go back and see where we are in terms of how we get through this game and then into the derbies with more personnel available to us.”
