A DEFLATED Peter Gentle says his Hull FC side deserved better than they got after finishing empty-handed despite a season-best performance.
Hull saw their four-game winning run ended by Wigan Warriors with a 28-20 defeat at the KC Stadium, despite the teams sharing four tries each.
A Tom Lineham hat-trick and a try for centre partner Ben Crooks looked to have put Hull on course for a memorable victory, but the league leaders held out thanks to the boot of Pat Richards and the creative threat of Sam Tomkins.
Gentle was unhappy with the performance of referee Richard Silverwood after two of Wigan's tries had more than a touch of controversy attached to them, but the coach was full of praise for his players.
"I think we deserved better than that. It was a committed performance against the benchmark team in the competition and I am very proud of my boys," said Gentle.
"I am extremely disappointed with the way the game was refereed and I've got plenty of questions for Steve Ganson on Monday morning.
"I have to choose my words carefully, but everyone saw it.
"The first try was off a forward pass and the boys tell me Josh Charnley didn't get it down.
"I am really disappointed, but the most pleasing thing is how disappointed the players are.
"They are not just happy that we've taken the best side in the competition all the way, we are disappointed we didn't win.
"There is a lot of improvement in us, but we feel flat for not winning that game.
"We didn't fold under any adversity and we finished the stronger, but we just couldn't get over the line.
"We are evolving as a team and we have made giant inroads.
"We have a long way to go, but it was very pleasing the way we played and didn't give in."
AARON Heremaia has agreed to take up the third year option on his contract and will stay at Hull until the end of the 2014 season.
