IN-FORM lock Rynard Landman says it's little consolation that Newport Gwent Dragons' attacking game is showing signs of life after they shot themselves in the foot in Europe.

The Dragons, shock victors against Stade Francais in Paris on opening weekend, failed in their bid for back-to-back victories in the Challenge Cup after being edged out 30-26 by Newcastle at Rodney Parade.

They played some enterprising rugby with ball in hand but gifted Newcastle too many points with full-back Hallam Amos seeing a pair of clearance kicks charged down for converted tries and Andy Powell's silly offside enabling the Falcons to stretch more than a kick away at the death.

"I am more gutted with a loss like the one against Newcastle than against Glasgow (when thrashed 33-13at home) because we really played well and lost," said Landman, who took over the captaincy when Lee Byrne limped off.

"We had the upper hand throughout but made two mistakes, charge down tries, that cost us dearly.

"We gave everything and built phases to put them under pressure but couldn't capitalise.

"We can't blame the ref. We can't blame anything, just ourselves – we made those two mistakes and it cost us."

He continued: "We played a lot better than we did three, four weeks ago with ball in hand and getting out of our own half. But if you don't win the games, what does it help really?"

The loss leaves the Dragons with no margin for error if they are to make the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup.

"You have to win your home games and the away win in Paris gave us a real chance of getting to the knockout stages," he said. "We want to get to there so every game is vital for us now."

The Dragons play Ulster in the Guinness Pro12 on Saturday before a two-week break for the LV= Cup will give them a chance to recharge the batteries and get a few of their many injured players back on the paddock.

Landman has played all eight games and missed just 40 minutes of rugby, when forced off at half-time after a blow to the head against Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

He is the only fit specialist lock on the region's books and is hoping that the coaches soon have some selection headaches.

"There are a few boys coming back soon and competition for places is always good, getting a few back onto the pitch will help us as a squad," he said.