ASSESSING a fourth successive Super League defeat, Hull FC coach Peter Gentle chose to focus on the positives ahead of a Challenge Cup quarter-final which could prove key to their season.
Yes, there were positives in defeat with Hull much-improved on the poor performances of their three previous losses.
But yet, a 22-16 loss to Huddersfield Giants still brought increased pressure on the Black and Whites – who now sit eighth in the league ladder and looking over their shoulders.
Where once a top-four challenge seemed on the agenda, Gentle's men are now clinging on to the final play-off spot and have a lot of work to do to even guarantee a home tie.
Against one of the competition's form teams and arguably the biggest pack, a group of forwards who had taken plenty of criticism in recent weeks stood up and gave a performance to offer encouragement.
Gareth Ellis produced his best display in a Hull shirt, whilst Andy Lynch and Mark O'Meley also won their individual battles.
But the familiar story of a stuttering attack which failed to build pressure and break down a solid Giants defence regularly enough left Hull empty handed once again.
An ever-changing pair of half-backs hasn't helped, but it's an all-too familiar excuse and one which is wearing thin for some FC fans.
Encouraging performances are one thing, but what Hull need right now are wins, no matter how they come.
A draw had looked on the cards when O'Meley's second-half score helped level the game, but perhaps an indicator of Hull's misfortune right now came as a ricochet off a Scott Grix drop-goal attempt allowed the Giants to score a late winner through Danny Brough.
Matching – and in the second-half bettering the Giants' forwards – Hull's pack did their bit, but the final tackle options were not good enough and the play-the-ball too slow.
The Black and Whites had got off to a quick start, but like against Castleford and Wakefield, the hosts couldn't make the most of Chris Green's early try as a professional Giants team found a way to win.
Hull's start owed everything to the work of Jacob Miller, in partnership alongside the impressive Aaron Heremaia, and the running of Ben Galea.
Miller took the ball at first receiver, weaving his way across the defensive line before finding Galea with a flat pass which set his fellow Aussie free. With Green in support, Galea was allowed a simple off-load to send the prop under the posts.
Miller played a key role in the next try too, but this time it was his knock-on early in a set inside their own half which handed the Giants field position. Joe Wardle crashed over in the corner as Hull's right side defence was unable to keep out the centre.
The visitors had parity but were not happy with that, pushing forward as they began to take control. Grix's cross-field kick to Wardle almost brought what would have been an audacious second try.
It wasn't to be but a helping hand did bring a second score as referee Phil Bentham came to Huddersfield's aid as, despite a Giants knock on and then forward pass, he allowed play to continue, and seconds later was blowing his whistle for a Giants try as Ukuma Ta'ai span out of a tackle to score.
Hull were battling hard through the middle with Lynch one of those to stand up to the Giants' forwards, but the hosts couldn't build any real pressure on the Huddersfield line.
Joe Arundel was held up over the line when he should have got the ball down, while Heremaia almost broke the defensive line to score.
Chances were at a premium, but in the dying seconds of the first half Ellis made a break after a bit of touch and pass in the centre of the field and when the ball found Kirk Yeaman the centre backed himself all the way to hold off two would-be challengers and touch down in the corner.
With the hooter sounding, Danny Tickle was left with a touchline conversion to level the scores but missed, leaving the hosts trailing at the break.
Continuing from where they left off Hull made a bright start to the second half, led by Richard Whiting's enthusiasm through middle. The old bad habits remained, however, and despite their ability to get to the Giants' 20 metre line, the hosts looked short on ideas where it counted.
The same couldn't be said of the visitors who had Brough's bag of tricks to thank for stretching their lead once again.
The stand-off had already come up with two big efforts in defence, but it was in his more accustomed role as play-maker where his impact was next felt. Sending an inch-perfect cross-field kick to Hull's left corner, Tom Briscoe made a mess of his challenge with Jermaine McGillvary for the ball, with the Giants winger coming out on top to score.
When Tickle sent the re-start out on the full questions were being asked if Hull were about to fold.
The answer was swift as the Black and Whites wrestled the ball back before tying the game.
Ellis' aggressive hit on Luke Robinson forced the scrum-half to drop the ball on halfway and although Yeaman was dragged down short of the try line after he gathered and ran away, Hull wouldn't be denied.
A quick play-the-ball went to the ideal man, as an in-form O'Meley burrowed his way over for his second try of the season.
Tickle's conversion levelled the scores and a tense finale ensued.
Hull thought they had a winner when Shannon McDonnell pounced on Miller's poor drop-goal attempt after it bounced off the post, but the full-back was deemed offside.
Hull had certainly earned a share of the spoils with their second-half display, but the points went Huddersfield's way when their own drop-goal effort was charged down by Tickle and the loose ball fell to Aaron Murphy, who put Brough, who else, in for the decisive try.
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