The wooden spoon is no longer a distant threat to Hull FC.

Huddersfield Giants' latest victory dragged Super League's bottom side to within two points of their rivals and turned the pressure firmly on the Black and Whites.

The decision to rock the boat so early in the campaign and shoot holes in the culture John Cartwright was repairing is becoming increasingly difficult to defend.

While the appointment of Steve McNamara may eventually bear fruit, the damage inflicted this season could take years to undo.

Hull's immediate challenge is to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom for the first time since 1963/64. That will be no mean feat for a team on a run of 11 defeats in 12 games.

A vastly superior points difference offers the Airlie Birds an extra buffer but the momentum is with Huddersfield after they backed up their first win under Jim Lenihan with another.

The Giants had spent recent weeks producing signs of life without much to show for them. Now they have back-to-back wins to cling to – and suddenly the situation at the bottom is not so straightforward.

This was another result built on the gritty qualities Lenihan is working hard to instil.

George Flanagan celebrates after scoring the decisive try. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

placeholder image — George Flanagan celebrates after scoring the decisive try. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

Buoyed by a long overdue victory at York Knights, Huddersfield made the perfect start thanks to Chris Patolo's powerful close-range effort.

It was an invitation for the fragile Black and Whites to crumble but they summoned a response to turn the game on its head before the half-hour mark.

Breaks from Harvey Barron and Logan Moy had already come to nothing by the time Joe Batchelor got Hull on the board. The back-rower was put through a hole untouched by Jake Arthur and he rounded George Flanagan expertly to finish next to the posts.

Huddersfield suddenly looked vulnerable again as the visitors punched their way up the field.

Hull celebrate Joe Batchelor's first-half try. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

Moy had a try ruled out after Ethan O'Neill lost possession close to the line but Hull did not have to wait much longer for their second try, Davy Litten adding the finishing touches to a break through the middle by Cade Cust.

True to form, though, there was nothing convincing about the way the Airlie Birds protected their lead.

Huddersfield went close through Jacob Gagai before eventually levelling the scores the other side of the interval when Connor Wrench kicked a loose ball ahead to score.

Flanagan's conversion nudged the Giants back ahead but, like their rivals, they are not natural frontrunners. They soon found themselves behind again after Litten took advantage of soft defence to finish O'Neill's break.

Lewis Jagger produces an acrobatic finish in the corner. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

Huddersfield are not so easy to shake off under Lenihan, however, and soon levelled courtesy of Lewis Jagger's acrobatic effort.

When Flanagan ran a good line to take Tui Lolohea's drop-off and jink his way over, the Giants were on the verge of a precious win.

Hull created the odd opening in the closing stages but Huddersfield were home and dry after Batchelor was denied by the video referee.

Huddersfield Giants: Flanagan, Zenon, Wrench, Gagai, Jagger, Lolohea, Rush, Patolo, Woolford, Rogers, Hewitt, Dunford, Rushton. Substitutes: Billington, Greenwood, Cozza, Geyer.

Tries: Patolo (5), Wrench (45), Jagger (62), Flanagan (68).

Goals: Flanagan 3/4.

Hull FC: Moy, Barron, Hardaker, Litten, Briscoe, Arthur, Sezer, Salabio, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, O'Neill, Bell. Substitutes: Aydin, Clark, Cust, Wood.

Tries: Batchelor (23), Litten (28, 49).

Goals: Hardaker 2/3.

Referee: James Vella.