Bradford Bulls coach gutted by late defeat against Widnes

Tom Gilmore nailed a late drop goal to give the visitors a 14-13 win at Odsal yesterday.

It was a second defeat on the bounce for the injury-hit Bulls, who had led by seven points late on.

O’Carroll admitted the home setback, following last week’s loss at York, felt self-inflicted.

“It’s really disappointing,” said the head coach. “I thought we showed lots of fight and loads of connection.

“We didn’t start the game particularly great but we found a way to get ourselves back in through a lot of hard work and what we’ve practised.

“We got seven points up with 12 minutes to go and we lacked ‘smarts’ to see that game out.

“Good teams see that period out but we looked frantic when we didn’t need to be. We put ourselves under pressure and Widnes are a good team and they’ll get you.”

Bulls were without eight starters including John Davies, who suffered a neck injury, Sam Hallas and Jorge Taufau.

But Tom Holmes did play his first game since his cancer diagnosis – and scored what looked to have been the winning try.

O’Carroll added: “I thought we had leaders. We’ve got some missing but there are no excuses because we’d put ourselves in a very good position to win that game.

“That’s where my frustration comes from. I know how hard they’ve worked.

“You look at some of the individual efforts from people like Eribe Doro.

“But on the flipside, we’re doing things that really hurt ourselves at the minute and it’s giving the opposition pressure releases.

“We spoke all week about territory, knowing how dangerous Widnes are when they’re attacking your goal line. We gave them too many chances.

“It’s our own doing. We’re going to have to learn lessons and learn them quick.

“Whether you’re 20 years of age, 23 years of age or 30, it doesn’t matter. If you put that jersey on, you have to do your job.

Tom Holmes is mobbed after scoring a try on his return (Image: Tom Pearson)

“We dipped in and out of being really good and then there were some head explosions. It put us under unnecessary pressure.

“I’d probably be a bit calmer if we weren’t at the races and we weren’t able to compete with some teams and that’s why we were losing.

“But I truly believe in the group. Regardless of who’s missing, the next man comes in and does his job.

“We did it for periods but just not long enough.”

The Bulls now sit sixth in the Championship table with three wins and three draws. Favourites Wakefield and Sheffield, who meet on Friday night, both boast maximum records.

“The reason why we’re not probably five from six is because of us.

“That’s not being disrespectful to the opposition but we’ve got things wrong in the last two games, which really hurts.

“If we stuck to what we’ve practised and we’re all in for 80 minutes and come out the wrong side, then I can be a little bit more understanding.

“But there too many periods of almost ‘self-sabotage’ at times, where we’re hurting ourselves.

“That’s down to me to find out why we’re doing it and if it’s the same individuals consistently doing it and then fix it.”