A RELIEVED Peter Gentle says victory at Wigan was all that mattered after watching his Hull FC side stage a dramatic comeback to win 34-33.
While Hull reversed their Challenge Cup final outcome, they still failed to produce a performance to convince against a vastly under-strength Wigan.
It took two late Daniel Holdsworth drop-goals, the second being the last play of the game, to snatch victory.
But Hull's win means another success at home to St Helens next week will guarantee a fifth place finish and a home tie in the play-offs.
Despite the poor nature of his side's showing, Gentle said the two points was all that mattered.
"I think we have quite a few of our players who are not on top of their game at the moment but it has been a tough week to try and generate some intensity at training and the manner of the loss was tough last week," Gentle said.
"We just needed a victory here and we didn't care how we did it. I'd have preferred not the way we did it, but we got the two points and it sets us up for a win next week and a home semi-final.
"There was a period we couldn't get our hands on the ball, then we had all the ball, it was just one of those games. We have given the players the weekend off to recover and Monday we'll get back in and have a tough week.
"There will be some viewing Monday that is not too pretty to watch, but certain individuals know that. I'm not pointing the finger. It has been a real tough week and we won. We showed character, but we also shouldn't have got ourselves in that position in the first place."
Hull's victory capped a good night of results for Gentle, with St Helens and Catalan both losing to allow Hull to gain ground.
MARK O'Meley has been ruled out of next week's game with St Helens with an ankle injury, but could return for the play-offs.
