Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newcastle Red Bulls might have arrived in Newport having already qualified for the last-16, but it's a fair bet that few fans on either side saw that result coming.

If the festive wins over Lyon, Connacht, and Scarlets signified welcome relief, then tonight was a statement that this current Dragons revival is anything but a fleeting one.

Providing there's no cruel turn of events in South Africa tomorrow, Filo Tiatia's side will be in the last 16.

There, they will have to take the next step and win away from home after four successive home victories but regardless of the draw, they can now travel with confidence.

You wouldn't have said that a month ago, good night.

Dragons Centre Aneurin Owen speaking to S4C: "I was very pleased with the character the boys showed out there tonight.

"The first-half didn't go our way, we couldn't get over the line. Our mindset at home with the crowd behind us is great, the challenge now is to take that away from home.

"We work hard in the week, we know we can put a performance in on the weekend. We've got two away games and our challenge is to put in a performance like this in those two games."

Ifan Phillips
Former Scarlets and Ospreys hooker on S4C

That was a very mature performance from the Dragons.

Sioned Harries
Former Wales captain on S4C

The Dragons were so disciplined.

They went back to what worked, they didn't overcomplicate things and stuck with the maul. That's what I like to see with the Dragons.

Player of the match Angus O'Brien speaking to S4C: "It was a huge effort from the boys and a brilliant reaction from what we saw last week.

"The first half was quite cagey, we made their two tries quite easy but I knew if we just stuck in there we'd turn our pressure into points.

"We were on top a lot of the first half, we were waiting for them to crack really. We kept going and the boys were outstanding up front and we got our reward in the end. A real confident performance in the second-half and we were delighted to get five points."

Well, the score line doesn't lie.

Before the break, Newcastle struck twice in quick succession through a counter attack from deep and an intercepted kick. Aside from those frantic few minutes, they were thoroughly outplayed by a cohesive and eventually, clinical Dragons side.

They piled on the pressure and it told in the second half.

Newcastle will finish second and are still guaranteed a home tie in the last-16. Barring an incredible sequence of events between Perpignan and Lions, Dragons will join them in the knockout stages.

Gwyn Jones
Former Wales captain on S4C

The Dragons have been great in the second-half, they've been patient and decisive just waiting for the gaps to open up.

Rhys Priestland
Wales international fly-half on S4C

It's been a brilliant team performance from the Dragons but my man of the match is Angus O'Brien. When he plays well the Dragons play well.

Many Dragons candidates tonight but Angus O'Brien gets the nod.

Few can argue,. Been superb, both with the boot and with ball in hand. The missed penalty before half-time has been the co-captain's only blip.

Jubilant me fans now singing 'Dragons on fire....'

It's not an ironic chant either. They have been.

Another Dragons attack ends when wing David Richards can't gather a pass out wide.

This has been a serious statement performance from the hosts. Attacked with intent from the word go and while they had to wait for the tries to come, they've been ruthless in the second half.

Was this really the side that went 12 months without a win before beating Lyon in December? Forget last week's blip in Benetton - it's been an astonishing turnaround from Filo Tiatia's side.

Gwyn Jones
Former Wales captain on S4C

Everything is going the Dragons' way, and that's because the Dragons have been so good. They've put Newcastle under so much pressure.

Rhys Priestland has summed this one up perfectly there.

Some rare second half pressure from Newcastle ends when the ball from loose in midfield and moments later, Dragons win a penalty which Angus O'Brien hammers towards the corner.

The subsequent lineout drive is halted illegally by Tom Gordon and it's 10 minutes on the sidelines for the number eight.

Rhys Priestland
Wales international fly-half on S4C

Fair play to the Dragons they've been so disciplined under pressure. They've been so much better than Newcastle tonight.

George Roberts is on for Brodie Coughlan, and one of his first tasks is to find his man at an attacking lineout.

He does just that but when another penalty follows, second time around he throws long and Newcastle clear their lines.

Dragons still have zero interest in taking three points here. They've shown some serious intent tonight.

Scarlets fans will have a close eye on proceedings at Stade du Hameau this evening.

French Top 14 high flyers Pau currently lead Bulls 24-19, which means Scarlets will not be able to qualify for the knockouts of the Champions Cup.

Any match points earned by Bulls – draw or bonuses – would leave the west Walians needing to respond in kind against Northampton Saints on Sunday to ensure they finish fifth and drop down to the Challenge Cup.

Careless from Dragons, as Che Hope is penalised for being in front of the kicker as Tinus de Beer tries to launch an old fashioned up-and-under.

Ethan Grayson misses touch though, and Angus O'Brien takes advantage with a raking clearance kick downfield.

That brought a huge cheers from the home crowd. It's all going the way of Dragons right now as they win another penalty 40 metres out.

Gwyn Jones
Former Wales captain on S4C

Great variation from the Dragons, and it bought them over the try line.

We know Dyer is so powerful and nobody was going to stop him from there.