Head Coach Filo Tiatia admitted poor discipline meant Dragons had always playing catch-up in the derby day defeat to Cardiff Rugby at Rodney Parade.
Brodie Coghlan scored a first half try but the visitors pulled clear before a score from Ben Carter and penalty from Angus O’BrIen ensured a losing bonus point.
But the comeback in the BKT United Rugby Championship fell short in front of a bumper home crowd to leave Tiatia to rue the first half errors and penalty count.
“We gave away too many penalties in that first half and gave Cardiff too much of a head start,” said Tiatia.
“The boys fought hard and stuck at it to claw their way back, but we left it too late. We got a bonus point out of the game, but we are disappointed.
“We wanted to take more out of that game. Now we have got to keep moving forward.
“We had opportunities when we got inside or just outside their 22, but we have got to build pressure and more phases. We didn’t quite do that.
“When we do, we were able to get over the line and score some points and stay in the game.”
Attention now turns to then Ospreys derby next Saturday as Dragons look to secure an elusive home victory.
“We’ve got to review the game, and the powerful truth is the truth. We must make adjustments,” added Tiatia.
“Every derby is a motivation to get up and we have another big home game next week against Ospreys. We have got to use the time to reflect and look at ways to get better.
“Our focus needs to be on improving in areas we need to improve on. That is our discipline. We need to make some shifts, otherwise teams in the URC will make you pay.
“We got to keep building belief around what we are trying to do as a group and take opportunities when they come."
Our focus needs to be on improving in areas we need to improve on. That is our discipline. We need to make some shifts, otherwise teams in the URC will make you pay...
