HULL FC captain Gareth Ellis says his side can go into Saturday's Challenge Cup shoot-out buoyed by an improved-performance, even if the result was missing.
Ellis gave his best display to date in a Hull shirt as the Black and Whites improved on three woeful displays to show what Ellis believes is more than a glimpse of encouragement.
It may not have been enough to see off the in-form Huddersfield Giants after a 22-16 loss, but for Ellis many of the issues of recent weeks have been addressed.
"It is do or die in the next game, but it is pleasing we are going into that match with a better performance behind us," Ellis told the Mail.
"In the last few weeks we have come off the field not happy with how we have played.
"We've been second best on enthusiasm in the last few weeks, but against Huddersfield we were arguably the better team.
"It is just that when you are in a rut like we are you end up on the wrong end of some decisions and 50/50 bounces of the ball."
With FC having had a potential late match-winning try by Shannon McDonnell ruled out, the Giants had a slice of luck when a drop-goal attempt was charged down and bounced into the path of Aaron Murphy to put Danny Brough in for the winning score.
It was a scenario Ellis feels sums up Hull's luck right now as they search for a way to address a losing streak that has seen the Black and Whites fall from fourth to eighth in the Super League table.
League matters become inconsequential for the next week, however, as Hull return to Challenge Cup action with a quarter-final tie at Catalan Dragons.
It was a league defeat at the Dragons which sparked Hull's fall from grace.
Comfortably beaten that day and substantially below par against Castleford and Wakefield in subsequent weeks, Ellis admits Hull's toughness and attitude was questioned by the coaching staff.
"It is disappointing to lose, as it always is, but in terms of effort and coming together as a team, which has been missing in recent weeks, it was pleasing the attitude was there against Huddersfield," adds Ellis.
"Peter Gentle and Lee Radford have questioned our toughness in terms of letting teams dominate us and roll through us.
"We had to have a flip in attitude and start playing with a bit of attitude and aggression to batter teams down a bit.
"It was a much improved performance with some good aspects to come out of it, but we are still searching for that victory.
"When you are winning games like Huddersfield are you find a way to win, when you are losing like we are and searching for a win it's the opposite. For us to come off with some positives is a good thing, especially going into the next game which is do or die."
Hull's attitude and toughness couldn't be questioned in defeat to the Giants, with their attacking frailties the reason behind the loss.
Ellis was one who brought steel to the Hull side, with one challenge in particular infuriating Giants coach Paul Anderson.
The second-row's hit on Luke Robinson forced an error which led to Mark O'Meley's second-half try and helped level the scores.
The legality of the challenge was questioned by Anderson, who accused Ellis of a shoulder charge.
"I thought at the time the impact was on my chest and I've watched it back. I don't think I've hit him in the head," added Ellis.
"It was one of those where he has squared up to play and turned his back and I have gone straight through him. I am hopeful there is nothing to answer with that and I am happy with it. It definitely wasn't a shoulder charge.
"The one from Eorl (Crabtree) on Jacob (Miller) was a shoulder charge and he got away with that. I am confident I will be ok for next week."
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