DAI Flanagan bemoaned another home missed opportunity after the Dragons ‘got off the ropes’ to give United Rugby Championship play-off hopefuls Connacht a scare.
The Rodney Parade club were edged out by the Irish province 34-27 in a cracker in Newport.
The Dragons were level-pegging in the closing stages courtesy of tries by centre Steff Hughes, scrum-half Rhodri Williams and Wales wing Rio Dyer.
However, a red card for a high tackle by lock Ben Carter swung the momentum back towards Connacht and they struck for the match-winning try with their well-drilled driving lineout.
“I am bitterly disappointed with the result. It’s tough losing, especially here at home, when the effort was so good. That is what makes me proud,” said Flanagan, whose side have won three league games in Newport this season but suffered narrow losses to Edinburgh and Cardiff.
“We were on the ropes that first half, but we kept it within a score. We then start the second half with a bang.
“We showed some character. The challenge, that I have said to the group, is to match that intensity with accuracy.
“That doesn’t just happen. We need to train at that intensity and play in more games with that intensity so we can be accurate in the moment.
“Our accuracy let us down. Four kicks out on the full and the odd jackal attempt where we lose our feet. It’s accuracy. But our energy was good.
“We matched them defensively, but we gave them too many ins with kick errors.
“Nobody wants to give away a penalty, Elliot Dee doesn’t want to give away a yellow card, he just cares so much. Rhods and Cai don’t mean to kick out on the full. We just need to be better in intense games.
“We showed the talent across the field. I thought Taine Basham and Ewan Rosser were outstanding and looked real threats on the ball.”
The Dragons are set to be without Carter for the run-in after his dismissal for a high shot, which also led to him being taken off for a head injury assessment.
They will also monitor Wales star Aaron Wainwright after the number eight was withdrawn at half-time for failing an HIA.
“We have Stormers next, and these South African teams are not small,” said Flanagan, with that clash on Friday, May 10.
“Connacht are a big team, you could see that in the first 20 minutes, but if we match the intensity, we are not a small team.
“If we are more accurate with the ball and fundamentals of the game we will be in with a shout and that is our challenge.”
The Dragons' bonus point meant they moved a point clear of Zebre Parma at the bottom of the table and within a point of the Scarlets.
They host the Stormers then finish with a pair of derbies against the Ospreys in Swansea and the Scarlets at the Cardiff City Stadium Judgement Day.
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