Never mind the bonus point, coach Lineen settles for getting back into winning habit

COACH Sean Lineen showed his relief after Glasgow's 27-19 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons yesterday when he insisted the lack of a fourth try and bonus point was of no concern.

Glasgow were in control of the game for long spells and fully deserved their win, which takes them back into the Magners League top four and kills the Dragons' play-off hopes. Lineen praised his players for putting in the work to grasp only a third victory in seven games – the second against the stuffy Welsh outfit – since the turn of the year.

"Am I worried about the bonus point? No, not at all," he said. "Against a team that have won here five times in a row I'll take the win thanks. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

"I'm delighted for the players. This was about trying to get the momentum back, which every team talks about but is so true. Winning is a habit and so is losing, and getting that win was important. Now we have to make sure that it's not the only win between now and the end of the season and get that momentum back.

"Obviously, we will look at the last ten minutes of the game (and the failure to score a fourth try]. For large periods we controlled the game and they didn't really look like scoring a try – they scored when we gave it to them – but I thought Kevin Tkachuk had a cracking game, Al Kellock did well with a big knock (he was carrying a shoulder injury] while we'd lost John Barclay before the kick-off; he wanted to play but I pulled him because he emptied himself against Munster last week and was not right."

Glasgow's back three of Bernardo Stortoni, Colin Shaw and DTH van der Merwe were a key unit yesterday, dealing well with the Dragons' kick-chase plans, and van der Merwe in particular was a lively presence in attack and crucial try-saving presence in defence. Lineen believes Glasgow supporters will see a lot more of the 23-year-old winger he described as having the "X Factor" in years to come, but he should also play a significant role in Glasgow's bid for the play-offs.

Lineen added: "It is really exciting – these play-offs are keeping everything going. Leinster are a little bit ahead, but we've still got to play them and so have Edinburgh, as have the Ospreys. And Munster have to play the Ospreys, so lots of teams at the top still have to play each other. There are lots of sub-plots going on.

"Ultimately, we have two home games and then the Scarlets last, and the next game against Ulster takes on the same significance as this one today: it's a must-win game.

"It's good to have a weekend off next week as there are a few sore boys and the Scottish boys (Scotland Six Nations players] need a break. Chris Cusiter has a calf injury, Al Kellock a shoulder knock, Beattie was hanging in there at the end and Barclay emptied himself last week as I said, and needs a break. They deserve it. All of these guys they have played a lot of rugby. But they're only getting one week and will be back to face Ulster."