Ulster head coach Richie Murphy admits Sunday’s surprise defeat by Zebre in the United Rugby Championship “has put a dent in our season”.

Zebre ran out 15-14 winners in Belfast as the Italian side ended a 36-game winless run away from home in the United Rugby Championship.

After a morale-boosting win over Exeter to progress in Europe the previous week, Sunday’s loss means Ulster missed out on the chance to move into the top eight in the URC.

Murphy admitted the result was damaging to Ulster’s hopes of securing Champions Cup rugby with a top-eight finish in the league.

The defeat was a sixth in 10 domestic matches for Murphy’s side.

“It was a result that we unfortunately deserved,” added Ulster’s head coach.

“We weren’t only looking for top eight but a little bit higher than that.”

After Bautista Staville and Giocomo Da Re scored quickfire tries at the start of the second half, Ulster pushed for a late response but fell up short.

“It’s not a very happy dressing room, as you can imagine.

“We have come into the game tonight knowing exactly what we needed to do and we haven’t managed to do that.

“We were a long way off, so collectively and individually we need to have a look at ourselves.”

“We need to stop this inconsistency that’s in our game. One week we are up, the next we are down.”