Toshack also pointed out that Hennessey's place could be under increasing pressure from Hull's Boaz Myhill who is likely to playing regularly in the top flight with his newly-promoted club.

BBC: Tosh tips Hennessey for the top

Stoke seemed content to soak up Hull pressure and rely on counter-attacks, but both Etherington and Dean Whitehead skewed shots horribly off target from promising positions.

BBC: Hull 2-1 Stoke

But the Warriors held firm in the face of Hull pressure and for the second week in a row Richards popped over a drop goal to make it 21-14.

BBC: Hull 18-21 Wigan

But it was Hull exerting all the pressure as they desperately fought to engineer a vital victory.

BBC: Bolton 1-1 Hull

Even that would involve filling the hull up to the lower deck with electrolyte and, to balance the pressure, probably flooding the bottom part of the dry dock with Thames water.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Landmark ship 'faces collapse'