DEAN Ryan says his Dragons side can't crack under pressure against Glasgow today after being unrecognisable when the heat came on last time out at Rodney Parade.
The Dragons host the Warriors in Newport this afternoon (kick-off 3pm) in the Guinness PRO14 after being dismantled by Connacht a fortnight ago.
The region opened the scoring but were then outmuscled by the Irish province in the rain, shipping five tries in a demoralising 38-14 defeat.
Dragons heads dropped and director of rugby Ryan knows they cannot afford a repeat against a top-quality Glasgow side.
"It's the first time that I have seen us go away from the things that we know when we are under pressure," said Ryan, who was appointed as Bernard Jackman's successor in the summer.
"There were 20 minutes in the second half when we didn't recognise ourselves, and listening to the group there have been glimpses of that before.
"It's just about having a little bit more clarity in those periods and a better of understanding of how we can carry on under pressure and get out the other side.
"Having that extra week after Connacht gave us a couple more sessions to get a little bit of certainty."
The manner of the defeat puts the pressure on the Dragons to produce at the very least a battling, tenacious display against title hopefuls Glasgow.
"This group is working very hard and we won't go week to week, saying about how important a game is," said Ryan.
"We are disappointed with the performance against Connacht and we have got to look at how we can be better in those tough situations because we will never play a game of rugby without having periods when we are under pressure.
"We've got to understand how we can be better and I'd like things to change around a bit this week and see an improvement."
The Dragons haven't beaten Glasgow since February 2014 and the Warriors are leading contenders to lift the PRO14 trophy in Cardiff next year.
Dave Rennie has continued the Gregor Townsend blueprint of enterprising rugby, a high-tempo style that the Dragons aspire to play.
"Glasgow are well coached," said Ryan. "After playing two Irish sides that squeezed us very hard with the drive and the kicking game, I am sure they will play a pretty expansive style.
"There have been times where we have seen the way that we want to play and there have been times when we have struggled under pressure in certain areas of the game.
"I hope that the game will be a little more fluid and I am excited about seeing ourselves up against them."
The Dragons are looking to upset the odds for a first PRO14 win at Rodney Parade since beating the Ospreys on December 30.
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