NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are heading in the right direction, insists Wales full back Kevin Morgan who captained the team in their most recent game against Leinster.

Morgan is confident the Dragons are on the right road, despite losing their last two games against the Ospreys and the Irish side in the Celtic League.

The Dragons won their first league game against Glasgow, they obtained a bonus point against the Ospreys and they should have done the same against Leinster while they were on the receiving end from the referees in Swansea and Dublin.

"Obviously we're disappointed because we had chances to win both games," said Morgan. "But we've improved with every game and I can see that we are going in the right direction.

"The boys are playing well, but we haven't been done any favours by the fixture list (the Dragons' first three league games were all away and six of their first eight matches are away) while we have struggled with injuries and a couple of the Lions boys are missing as well.

"The return of Mike and Coops (Michael Owen and Gareth Cooper) should give us more options as it helps to have bigger squads, and a few of the injured boys are coming back as well."

But Morgan also believes there are areas where the Dragons can make a marked improvement, like discipline and ball retention.

"We are giving too many penalties away with too many yellow cards as well which is something we've got to look at because it's handicapping us and it's costing us five or six points every game," he said.

"And we've got to try to keep the ball better, we are not holding on to our possession for long enough. We should have been in the lead at the end of the first half against Leinster (the Dragons went into a 7-0 lead, but trailed 14-7 at the interval)."

Now the Dragons must focus on a difficult game against leaders Ulster on Saturday night, their first of the season in the league at Rodney Parade.

"We've got to look hard at that one now, it's a big game and it's nice to play at home but we need to win it," he said.

"We know the type of game Ulster play and we've got to try to combat it," he added referring to a big, strong pack bolstered by former Australia lock Justin Harrison supported by the mighty boot of David Humpreys.