Glasgow - 34 Ulster - 20: A third successive defeat for Ulster, with common themes undermining each performance. Throw in a back-row injury crisis and Ulster find themselves in the worst possible shape for the start of their Heineken European Cup campaign, which opens against Cardiff at Ravenhill on Friday.

This defeat to a Glasgow side that previously had only won two from six Celtic League attempts leaves Ulster, who only five months ago missed out on the league title by a whisker on the final day, slumped in 10th place and 23 points adrift of the leaders, Ospreys.

But more worryingly for coach Mark McCall, his side now seem stuck in a serious rut, which could see their European Cup campaign unravel before the month is out, with a daunting trip to Gloucester following Cardiff's visit to Belfast.

The visitors to Hughenden on Saturday evening once again were able to put together some impressive displays in the opening quarter and led 10-7 thanks to a David Humphreys penalty and a well-finished try by Tyrone Howe, which cancelled out a converted try by prop Kevin Tkachuk.

Momentum was then lost, however, when Simon Best and then Matt McCullough were sin-binned and Glasgow's ability to make holes in the Ulster defence saw the home side steal the lead at the interval with a try by Graeme Morrison.

Ulster's second-half display was riddled with defensive uncertainty and a malfunctioning lineout. Glasgow pulled away with two converted touchdowns and two penalties by Dan Parks. Ulster, despite enjoying a sustained spell of pressure midway through the half, could only muster a Humphreys penalty and a late converted try by Tommy Bowe in response.

Jonny Bell (ankle) and then stand-in flanker Matt Mustchin (knee) were forced to retire from the match in the closing minutes.

Mustchin looks certain now to miss the opening two European matches, along with Andy Ward and Neil McMillan.

McCall will be praying Roger Wilson recovers from a shin injury so he can field a recognised back row for the visit of Cardiff, with Dungannon lock Tim Barker likely to be forced to cover the back row from the bench.

McCall will also have his work cut out to instill some self-belief into his squad. He could not have asked for a more trying opening to his coaching tenure.

SCORERS: Glasgow - Tries: Parks 2, Tkachuk, Morrison. Cons: Parks 4. Pens: Parks 2. Ulster - Tries: Howe, Bowe. Cons: Humphreys 2. Pens: Humphreys 2.

GLASGOW: R Kerr; A Craig, G Morrison, A Henderson, K Logan; D Parks, S Pinder; K Tkachuk, G Bulloch, L Harrison, A Hall, D Turner, C Mather, J Petrie, D Macfadyen. Replacements: S Lawson for Bulloch (10 mins); E Murray for Tkachuk (22-32 mins); E Murray for L Harrison (55 mins); Howarth for Kerr (65 mins); A Wilson for Mather (70 mins); D Millard for Craig (76 mins).

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, K Campbell; R McCormack, N Brady, S Best, G Longwell, M McCullough, C Feather, G Brown, N Best. Replacements: R Brown for Moore (33-37 mins); R Frost for Longwell (50 mins); J Bell for Steinmetz (52 mins); N Mustchin for Brown (59 mins); P Shields for Brady (62 mins); N Doak for Campbell (68 mins); P Wallace for Cunningham (73 mins).

Referee: N Williams (Wales).