NEWPORT Gwent Dragons captain Jason Forster paid coach Chris Anderson a massive tribute after the side won for the first time in Belfast against Ulster on Friday.

It was their fourth victory in a row and lifted them to second place in the Celtic League table, though they are back down to third after Leinster beat Edinburgh yesterday.

But the Dragons have a game in hand and they ought to achieve a bonus point victory against bottom team Borders at Galashiels this Friday.

The Dragons will go back to second if the Opsreys beat Leinster in Friday night's table-topper.

"Chris is down to earth and keeps everyone's feet on the ground," said Forster. "He is bringing the X-factor to us and is giving us that inner belief and hardness.

"When you go to places like Ravenhill with David Humphreys kicking to the corners - he's the king at that - you have to show character.

"It was a fantastic win and it shows how far we've come in the last few weeks, it means a lot to everyone.

"We took our chances well and there was some individual brilliance, but you can't always score great tries. We let in some soft ones, but we have now got a mental hardness and inner belief.

"We showed great composure and great spirit, we kept going forwards and we are keeping on a roll. To win at Ravenhill was superb."

Humphreys, the Ulster captain, paid tribute not just to the Dragons but to the strength of the Welsh teams in the Celtic League.

"The Dragons are a very good team and they didn't let us into the game," he said. "The Celtic League is a step up this year and the Welsh teams are very strong.

"We have seen a lot of the Dragons and they have benefited from the demise of the Celtic Warriors.

"They are going to be along with the Ospreys two of the better teams in the competition.

But I am not making excuses, because we have lost a couple of games and the self belief we've had over the last three years is missing."