Danny Wilson admits a one-point loss to Glasgow Warriors was a bitter pill to swallow but has called on Cardiff Blues to continue their improvement.
The Blues were in a titanic tussle with the Scottish outfit at Cardiff Arms Park and had the opportunity to snatch the game in the closing stages.
However, Steve Shingler, who had not looked like missing all night, uncharacteristically skewed his penalty to let Glasgow off the hook.
It was a disappointing defeat to take, which leaves the Blues winless after three Guinness PRO14 encounters, but Wilson was encouraged by the performance.
Wilson said: “It’s a bitter pill to swallow but if we are just analysing the performance it was a big step forward.
“it was the best performance from us this season and a huge step in the right direction from our last home game against Edinburgh. We were as close as we all saw to picking up a win against a very good Glasgow team.
“The effort from the players and the application of the game plan to put them under pressure forced a lot of errors.
“Our set piece was excellent from very young props to be very dominant and get penalties was very pleasing.
“Nick Williams made a big difference in the first-half and was very unlucky not to be awarded penalties for jackals, which for some reason we weren’t getting.”
Cardiff Blues face Connacht in their next PRO14 encounter, before another away trip to face Munster and Wilson wants his side to continue their progression to kick-start their season in Galway.
He added: “We’ve improved each week from a poor start against Edinburgh and I genuinely think tonight is a performance to be proud of.
“We didn’t quite get over the line but we couldn’t get much closer and next week has to be another improvement.”