Head Coach Dai Flanagan admitted his 14-man Dragons had lost control of the EPCR Challenge Cup clash with Glasgow Warriors – but insisted they squad needed to stick together in adversity.
The Men of Gwent had prop Aki Seiuli sent off in the first half as they lost 73-33 at Scotstoun Stadium.
Flanagan’s men scored five tries– through full-back Jordan Williams, wing Rio Dyer, centre Jared Rosser and hooker Elliot Dee (2) – but it was a difficult evening at Scotstoun Stadium.
“It’s a difficult one for me as a young coach to see that. We’ve got to pull ourselves together, and stick together,” said Flanagan.
“We totally lost control for a period when they scored 21 points in three minutes and that racks up the score.
“We lack the ability to understand what to do to keep a score down and stay in a game – Glasgow are a fantastic team and we always knew it would be a big challenge coming up here.
“We had a plan with ball in hand and we executed that well, but that’s not good enough and defensively we fell off too many tackles.
“There were elements at Glasgow that were better, but we have a tough game up next in Ulster.
“Things don’t get any easier and good teams are peaking at the end of the season while we are limping, and that is tough to take.”
Dragons were without a number of players for the fixture – 14 missed the trip to Scotland through injury and suspension – and were forced into an early change when Steff Hughes went off.
Jared Rosser moved from the wing but came off himself in the closing stages with scrum-half Rhodri Williams having to cover at 13.
Flanagan, though, refused to use it as an excuse and added that Seiuli’s red – the third Dragons player to be sent off in the last three games – had a massive impact.
“It has been challenging but I don’t want to talk about players that are not here,” said Flanagan.
“That’s life, that’s the squad that we’ve got and we have to get on with it.
“There were players on that field who are good enough. We are in this together and have to fight through it together.”
It’s a difficult one for me as a young coach to see that. We’ve got to pull ourselves together, and stick together...
