IT was meant to be a week when Hull City pushed their promotion bid forward by making the most of back-to-back home games at the KC Stadium.
But instead of cementing their place in the Championship's top six, one point from a possible six has left City needing a win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday to ensure they don't slip out of the play-off positions.
The collection of just one more point to their league tally far from tells the full story, though, as Steve Bruce's men went from woefully under par when losing to Burnley to back to their best when unlucky not to beat Crystal Palace.
It left midfielder Stephen Quinn in a reflective mood ahead of the trip to the City Ground, still positive about his side's ability, but also acknowledging the Tigers must do more to make their extra quality count.
"It's one of those leagues where we will come up against teams wanting to frustrate us," Quinn told the Mail.
"Word is spreading that we are a good passing side and teams are shutting us down by coming to the KC Stadium and parking the bus.
"That's what Burnley and Crystal Palace both did to us, and we are versatile enough to change the way we play.
"We have to find ways of creating chances and opening teams up, but we have to stay patient, fans included."
Patience doesn't always come hand in hand with football.
But although disappointed on Saturday afternoon, when former Tiger Dean Marney punished their poor display with the winning goal, the majority of fans surely left the KC on Tuesday night with confidence restored in City's ability.
Free-flowing football saw the Tigers have 17 shots on the Palace goal.
In many ways it always looked destined to be 'one of those nights' – particularly when captain Robbie Koren fired over with the goal at his mercy.
"There's no doubt we can open any team up in this division if we play to the best of our ability," Quinn added.
"We can mix things up as well if we want, because we have big lads if we want to play it long.
"But it will definitely come for us if we keep passing and grinding teams down.
"We'll do the right things, as all the boys in this team are comfortable on the ball and passing it about."
"The last two home games were disappointing, but now we need to go away from home and set our stall out to get some good results."
Good results have come for City on the road this season, with their last bringing a 3-2 success at Birmingham.
Four wins from nine games on their travels have helped maintain the promotion push, and travelling firstly to Forest, who sit three points behind Bruce's men, and then Watford, who trail City by just two points, means another key period ahead.
But Quinn says the events of the past week have added no extra pressure, and he sees it as a chance to again put some breathing space between themselves and the chasing pack.
"If we can open gaps on both Forest and Watford, then all well and good," said the 26-year-old, who joined from Sheffield United earlier in the season.
"I wouldn't say there is more pressure on us to win games away from home now.
"It's a difficult league and teams go on little runs here and there all the time.
"If we can go on a mini-run of good results until Christmas it will be great to pull away from the teams below us.
"But this league is so unpredictable, who knows what will happen?
"We'll still go out and do the right things and hopefully we will get the results our performances have deserved."
