TOM Brown says the embarrassment of setting a regional losing record will provide Newport Gwent Dragons with extra motivation to end their long wait for a win, writes Chris Kirwan.

When the Dragons were downed 30-20 by Northampton in the LV= Cup on Sunday it was their seventh defeat on the spin – the worst streak since their inception.

The performance against the Saints may have given reason for optimism ahead of their return to RaboDirect Pro12 action against Connacht tomorrow but that was scant consolation for number eight Brown.

“I was gutted to hear that we had set a record,” he said. “It made me think back to games that we should have won, all we needed was one moment of brilliance but we came up short.

“We need to end this run and even though it was another loss against Northampton, we were a lot sharper.

“We have taken confidence and belief from that, which is what we have lacked at times.

“But I have never been one to let my shoulders slump and I hope nobody else does, because you’re never going to have things all your own way in a game.

“And it was important against Northampton that we showed we have the mental edge to keep going forward no matter what, even when the opposition are having a good spell. We need the same against Connacht.”

The Irish province have not played since beating Treviso on November 3 and Brown expects Connacht will be straining at the leash as they attempt to repeat last season’s victory at Rodney Parade.

“It will be an all guns blazing game and Connacht will be targeting us just as much as we are targeting them," said the number eight.

“They are abrasive, horrible at the breakdown and big, physical men while Dan Parks has the ability to control the game from fly-half.

“Connacht will be hungry to beat us but we really need this. One win could easily turn our season round and give us a real boost.

“I’d take a 3-0 – winning ugly is much better than losing pretty.”