RICHARD Hibbard says that the Dragons made great strides with their determined derby display at Cardiff Blues – but insists it has nothing to do with a change of boss.

The Rodney Parade region produced a backs-to-the-wall performance at the Arms Park after playing for an hour with 14 men because of Zane Kirchner's yellow card and Lloyd Fairbrother's red.

Their resilience looked set to be rewarded with a share of the spoils in the Guinness PRO14 derby in the capital only for Wales fly-half to break Dragons hearts with the final kick of the game, sneaking a 19-16 success for the Blues.

Rather than a draw that felt like victory, Hibbard & Co suffered a 23rd successive league loss to Welsh rivals.

However, it was one of their most encouraging displays of a torrid first half of the season that led to the sacking of head coach Bernard Jackman.

The former Ireland hooker was relieved of his duties because of heavy defeats to Leinster and Northampton and the players have responded by battling against French giants Clermont Auvergne and the Blues.

That, summer signing Hibbard insists, is coincidence.

"That didn't just come overnight, it has been building all season," said the former Lions front rower. "We have been taking small steps, maybe a bit too small at times, and that led to the performance last week.

"Hopefully we will keep pushing and we can turn into the team that we know we can be. Literally nothing has changed, it was just a performance where certain things clicked.

"It's been business as usual (since Jackman left) with the plan that was put in place last summer. We haven't got there as quickly as we wanted but we are finally taking steps forward."

The challenge for the Dragons is to take the confidence from their spirit in defeat in Cardiff and end the derby nightmare against the Ospreys in Newport on Sunday.

"I was proud of the performance, we played with 14 men for most of the game and still had the opportunity to win it at the end," said Hibbard.

"To lose it like we did was gutting but it's about taking that performance and then taking another step forward against the Ospreys.

"We came in to review the game the day after and there was an element of excitement, because it was a great performance at the Arms Park.

"The boys really put a shift in and are bouncing ready to go again. We all think that we should have won so want to get back on the horse and get out there. We really want to get a good win for the crowd."

It will be a special occasion for Hibbard, who made 175 appearances for the Ospreys between 2004 and 2014 before heading to Gloucester.

The 35-year-old faced his old team in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in January and would love a repeat of that Kingsholm success.

"I have only played them once since leaving and it's always exciting to play your old team," he said.

"I have tons of good memories from there but they are almost a different team now with just a few very old faces! It should be good; derbies are always bruising but they are enjoyable.

"When they have their frontline boys they are a formidable team with Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric leading them. They seem to be finding form and it will be a tough challenge.

"We know about the Ospreys' threats but we will concentrate on ourselves and polish what we did well against the Blues and really go at them."