Inconsistency is in danger of wrecking FC's top-six hopes

BEAT THE CHAMPIONS AND THEN LOSE TO STRUGGLERS

- By DAN TOMLINSON

It's the most Hull FC thing ever to topple Super League's reigning champions in their own backyard and then lose to one of the competition's struggling sides the following week.

But that doesn't take away the disappointment of what was a big blow to Hull's playoff push, with a lacklustre account seeing them slip to a 30-14 defeat to Huddersfield Giants at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It was another match that went against the grain, and not for the first time this year.

Hull, when written off and the underdog, tend to thrive, but when the clear favourite, they come unstuck.

Whether that's the weight of expectation and the pressure that comes with it or too much energy zapped out after a season-high win last week, who knows, but it's an issue clearly hindering this side's charge to the top six.

They were brilliant last week at Wigan when few saw victory coming, but here they stumbled again against an opposition they were largely expected and tipped to beat.

In fact, you could sense what was coming after just 10 minutes. Hull were struggling and looked flat and lethargic in a game where they were predicted to take it by the scruff of the neck. But they did anything but.

It was a slow and tedious match with painful play of the ball speed, but it takes nothing away from written-off Huddersfield, who deserved their win, and favourites Hull, who got what they deserved - nothing.