A costly defeat for Hull FC. Here’s Andy Last’s reaction.
Hull FC forward Yusuf Aydin was sent off at Bradford Bulls.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last labelled Yusuf Aydin’s red card a ‘brain snap’ – holding no complaints with the decision.
Aydin was sent off in the 48th minute for a tip tackle on Bradford Bulls full-back Caleb Aekins, with Hull playing the remaining 32 minutes with 12 men.
The Hull prop’s red card proved to be defining in a 16-14 win for the Bulls, who held on after a late Davy Litten try for a two-point victory. Joe Batchelor also scored for the Black and Whites, with Bradford crossing over through Waqa Blake and Ethan Ryan after a try-less first half.
“We’re disappointed with our discipline,” Last said post-match. “I think the way that the game went, players got a bit frustrated. We’ve got no qualms with the send-off. It’s a brain snap from Yusuf and it’s one that has proved costly to the team.
“He’s aware of that and he’s disappointed. He’s apologised; it’s proved costly for us in terms of performance and results.
“Yusuf is a good kid, though, and he’ll be gutted that he’s let his teammates down. It was just a moment of madness.”
Elsewhere, Hull FC are counting the cost of defeat, suffering another injury to Brad Fash, who limped off the field in the first half and has a suspected MCL rupture. Amir Bourouh also failed his HIA, while Lewis Martin and Davy Litten did it tough.
“Our analysts have looked at it and said it’s a bit of a naughty one,” Last said. “He’s done his MCL. Whatever the collision has looked like, it’s been significant enough to cause a serious injury.
“It looks like it will be a lengthy layoff. He’ll have a scan as soon as we can but we think he’s done his MCL.
“Amir failed his HIA. He won’t be available for Leigh. It’s been a really costly loss. We’ve got some guys banged up and bruised.
“Lewis Martin has also hurt his ankle. We don’t know if he’ll be okay yet (for Leigh). Davy Litten too went through it. He hurt his shoulder at the end too.
“We’ll be struggling for numbers. That’s been the story with us for a couple of years now, but it gives other people an opportunity.”
As for the game, Last praised the tenacity of his Hull side in defence but had no complaints after another poor display with the ball proved to be their undoing.
“I’m really disappointed,” Last said. “I was confident coming here that we had a good week’s practice and we had ironed out some issues that had reared their head from the Toulouse game.
“We just didn’t start the game well. We made an error on the kickoff. We managed to grind our way back into the game but we are just lacking a bit of confidence.
“It’s quite obvious to see; you look at the quality of the players we’ve got sat in the stands. It shows in performance. We’re just not where we need to be.
“We’re trying hard for each other and I admire their effort and their tenacity to stay in the fight. We just need a bit more quality in key moments.
“But we still could have nicked it. If Zak (Hardaker) had landed that goal, we could have been going to golden point, but I don’t think we did enough to ask questions of Bradford.
“We didn’t hold our position and we didn’t hold possession. Some of the individual decision-making, I was scratching my head. We need to be better, especially in the key positions.”