Dwayne Peel admitted there was a huge feeling of frustration in the Scarlets’ camp following their Boxing Day derby defeat to the Ospreys.
Unable to turn possession and territory into points, especially early on, the home side succumbed to a 26-19 loss, with a late Jarrod Taylor try earning the consolation of a losing point.
“It was hugely frustrating, we are all gutted with that result,” said Peel, speaking to the media post-match.
“You look at that first quarter, we had all the territory and passion and couldn’t get over the line, there was a disallowed try in there as well, then that two-try swing for them really hurt us.
“With all that possession, as much as we felt we were threatening on the edges and when we played with tempo you could see we got on top of them there, we were inaccurate and turned over a lot of ball.
“In the second half, it became too loose. At 14-7 we were back in it, but then at the start of the second half we coughed up balls with knock-ins, we could have dropped on the ball there for their third try, there were skill errors, we lost a couple of line-outs in their 22. When we come in on Sunday and review that game there will be elements we will be really disappointed with.
“As I said, I am pretty gutted, there was a great crowd here and I felt we were in a good spot going into the game, but the games come thick and fast now and it is about recovering well and being fresh and ready to go next week.”
There is little time for the Scarlets to lick their wounds with a New Year’s Day clash against a resurgent Dragons at Rodney Parade on the horizon.
“The games are coming thick and fast. The Dragons is another important game and another tough game for us,” added Peel.
“We have to make sure we go to Rodney Parade with a spark and full of energy.”
Peel is hoping to have skipper Josh Macleod, who missed the Ospreys game because of a HIA, fit again for the New Year’s Day clash. Prop Kemsley Mathias could also be back from a groin injury, while full-back Blair Murray is expected to be sidelined for another couple of weeks with the ankle injury he sustained in Cardiff.