NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have almost certainly missed out on automatic qualification for next season's Heineken Cup after this shock home defeat by Connacht tonight.

The Dragons led for most of the Magners League game and though they dominated the second half they again let victory slip through their fingers and Connacht stole it with an injury time try.

The Dragons struggled to string much together and never remotely threatened to achieve a bonus point. Their game against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium could be an embarrassment at this rate next Friday.

The Dragons had the boost of a fifth minute lead when Ceri Sweeney kicked a penalty after a scrum offence, but amazingly Connacht captain Andrew Farley escaped a yellow card when Luke Charteris was badly upended at a line-out.

The Dragons lost scrum half Andy Williams with a cut head, but they made progress through a typical kick and chase down the flank by Gareth Wyatt, only for Adam Jones to knock on.

Wyatt twice, Rhodri Davies, Joe Bearman and Wayne Evans all handled in a sweeping attack, then the pack had Connacht in disarray at a scrum.

And a Dragons try soon followed. Sweeney almost made it to the line, tackled just short by Gavin Duffy after being put away by Steve Jones, but from the line-out Connacht hooker Adrian Flavin threw the ball way over his jumper and Michael Owen took it before calmly touching down for a soft try.

The visitors promptly hit back when New Zealander Troy Nathan kicked a simple penalty, but Williams, back on the field, made a super break which went unrewarded through lack of support.

It got tighter when Nathan landed his second penalty from in front, though the referee had missed a forward pass, but he was wide with a third attempt.

The Dragons regained their composure and in first half injury time Sweeney kicked his second penalty to make their lead four points at the interval.

Nathan missed another penalty shot five minutes into the second half before the Dragons attacked down the left flank, Williams and Martyn Thomas combining well, but Joe Bearman, otherwise excellent, delivered poorly from a line-out.

The Dragons came again and Charteris and Bearman ran strongly before full back Thomas was tackled into touch almost on the corner flag and Michael Owen had the ball snatched from his grasp as he was going for the touchdown.

Connacht centre Keith Matthews also avoided a card after a high tackle on Paul Emerick, but from the penalty he did award Sweeney booted wide from a comfortable position.

Sweeney, giving it everything despite his imminent departure, was twice just held up yards short after determined running as the Dragons piled on the pressure, but they could not make the breakthrough.

Instead it was flanker Johnny O'Connor who stole over for a try in injury time to level the scores and replacement Andrew Dunne's conversion sealed the Dragons' fate.

Newport Gwent Dragons: M Thomas (K Morgan 75), G Wyatt, P Emerick, R Davies, R Mustoe, C Sweeney, A Williams (W Evans 4-18), A Black (D Pattison 83), S Jones (B Daly 55), R Thomas, A Jones (A Hall 61), L Charteris, C Charvis captain, (J Ringer 74), J Bearman.

Scorers - try: M Owen; penalties: C Sweeney (2).

Connacht: G Duffy, M Mostyn, M Deane (D Yapp 40), K Matthews, D Riordan, T Nathan (A Dunne 68), C McPhillips, B Wilkinson, A Flavin (J Fogarty 52), R Loughney (B McGovern 58), D Gannon (A Browne 55-68), A Farley (captain), J Muldoon, C Rigney, J O'Connor.

Scorers - try: J O'Connor; conversion: A Dunne;penalties: T Nathan (2).

Referee: Mr. N Paterson (Scotland).

Attendance: 5,748.