14-men Dragons failed to sign off at Rodney Parade for the season with a win as Sam Davies missed two late drop-goals in a narrow defeat to Connacht.
Tries from Aaron Wainwright and Jared Rosser, as well as the boot of Will Reed gave them hope despite losing second-row Matthew Screech to a red card in the first-half. But it wasn't to be, as they failed to convert a number of chances late on in the contest.
Having not won in the United Rugby Championship since October, their final home clash of the fixture - as bizarre as that seems coming in early March - would have been one that Dai Flanagan's men had circled in the calendar to target.