Rubén Sellés admitted his side fell short in the final third during Hull City’s 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Derby County.
Nat Phillips’ 84th-minute header from Craig Forsyth’s free-kick lifted the Rams out of the drop zone at the Tigers’ expense heading into the final match of the season.
“The game was as competitive as we expected,” said Sellés. “The game was about long balls, second actions and the direct approach from them.
“I think we controlled well. We were aggressive. We arrived into the final third into some positions, but we didn’t finish the job.
“In one action from the set-piece, the entire game changed when we conceded that goal. They managed the time at the end, so we didn’t play much in the last minutes and then we lost the game.”
Sellés continued: “It was that final pass, the finishing action we lacked. We leave the opposition with two shots on target only in the game.
“We minimise (them). I don’t think they were at any moment threatening us in almost any situation.
“We didn’t get the final action in the box and then paid the price for not defending well at a set-piece.
“I don’t think our final product was good enough. Our shots didn’t get the target – that was a problem for us in the final-third situation. We arrived into those moments.
“It’s not something that’s new for us. It’s been difficult for us to score that kind of situation of goals lately.
“We invested enough into the game to get something.”
The boss also provided a fitness update on Regan Slater and John Egan, both of whom were withdrawn through injury, as well as Louie Barry.
Sellés said: “Regan twisted his ankle when he shot on target. He was completely off balance. He couldn't cope with running, mobility, so we had to take him out.
“John Egan felt a spasm in his back during the first half. He managed until minute 61 but he asked for a substitution because he could not carry on with the pain.
“For Regan, we will need to assess in the next couple of days, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be available for the last game of the season. With John, I think it’s a matter of time.
“Saturday morning, we got the news that Louie Barry has had a setback in his injury, so he will not be joining us for the last part of the season, unfortunately.”
