“We need to be better,” said the Dragons head coach after they went down 24-17 in front of their own fans at Rodney Prade.
The Dragons may be in many people’s firing line - including that of their own former coach Lyn Jones - when it comes to the debate over re-structuring the professional game in Wales, but this was a muted attempt to voice defiance.
It was less Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” anthem and more old time crooner Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces”.
Cardiff scored three tries inside the opening 20 minutes and were always comfortable as they kept intact their 11-year - or 3,850 days - unbeaten sequence against their fiercest rivals.
“Whatever I say, we need to be better,” said Tiatia, who rested most of his regular starters for the defeat at Glasgow six days before, in the hope they would be fresh and firing.
Instead, the Dragons hardly fired a shot in between scoring their first try after seven minutes through Brodie Coghlan and their second for Ben Carter eight minutes from time.
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In between times, Cardiff collected their bonus point with their fourth try to go top of the table, before most of the clubs beneath them play this weekend.
“We need to be better around short turnarounds, preparation, and also how we can take opportunities when they come,” added Tiatia.
“We've just got to keep improving, and that's what we can control.”
Jones had stirred the pot earlier in the day when he gave a radio interview - in Welsh - where he declared the Dragons "had done almost nothing for the past 20 years" and would therefore have few complaints if they were written out of the brave new world being concocted by the Welsh Rugby Union.
If it was meant to stir the Dragons into action then it failed and it was left to Tiatia to show a bit more aggression towards Jones than his players had managed to display against Cardiff.
“I didn't see it or read it, “said Tiatia of Jones’ remarks.
“He's an old Ospreys coach, and he's coached here and it surprised me, the comment.
“They're all fighting for their jobs and particularly these players here, they're really trying to put a performance forward and ultimately win games.
“We fell short today, and there's different areas where we need to keep improving and that’s what we're going to do.”
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Cardiff were strong up front but not very smooth when they tried to go wide, but they always had the measure of the Dragons.
Cardiff interim head coach Corniel van Zyl said: “It was a tough one and we ground it out.
“Our attack was probably not the best ever, to be fair but the Dragons defended really well and we couldn't find the space.
“Sometimes that happens, but I have no real concerns.”
For a team that had not won this fixture for 10 years, the Dragons began as if they thought that was an excuse for a happy anniversary.
Their tackling lacked spite or physical edge and they were happy to concede territory, even though it cost them three tries inside the first quarter.
When Cardiff flanker Alex Mann crossed in the left corner inside a minute after some half-strength resistance, it set a despondent tone for the home fans.
Without having to do much more than pick and go, Cardiff were able to add further tries from close range for Mann’s fellow back rowers, Taulupe Faletau and Dan Thomas.
Faletau’s effort - and his general air of unhurried calm will have pleased watching Wales coach Steve Tandy, before the veteran No.8 was withdrawn just before the hour mark.
It was Faletau’s first appearance since he injured his calf muscle playing for Wales in the first Test defeat to Japan back in July.
The only pressure the Dragons managed to apply in the first half came when they briefly led 7-5 following a try for hooker Coghlan off a line-out.
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Leading 17-7 at the interval, Cardiff slackened at the start of the second-half, but the Dragons were unable to gain enough worthwhile territory or possession themselves to launch a fightback.
The moment Cardiff did raise their tempo again, they scored their fourth try through replacement prop Dan Southworth after wing Tom Bowen had shown the pace and trickery which has ignited his early season.
The bonus point try took Cardiff 24-7 ahead and the Dragons seemed to know the script was following an all too familiar pattern.
They did manage a second try late on through Carter, who barged over under the posts, but like many other Dragons’ revivals it came after the result was beyond them.
