THIS run of pressure-free games was supposed to see Warrington Wolves start to display progress.

For 40 minutes here, it looked like we were getting it as the team went two consecutive halves without conceding a point for the first time this season.

Wire poured forward and were generally dominant. Not only that, but they showed the kind of defensive desperation that has been missing for much of the year.

A case in point was Matt Dufty’s heroic sprint back to stop Greg Eden from scoring an interception try in the nick of time and Josh Thewlis’ all-or-nothing interception on the very next play.

Warrington Guardian:

Matt Dufty stops Greg Eden from scoring in the first half. Picture by SWPix.com

However, they left themselves vulnerable by not taking advantage of the platform they had built for themselves.

Half time should have seen them so much further ahead than they were – the decision of Peter Mata’utia to pass inside to an off-guard James Harrison as opposed to putting Greg Minikin over for a walk-in stands out among the chances that went begging.

There was a general sense that a 12-point lead would not be enough to hold off an expected resurgence from a desperate Tigers side, and so it proved.

A half’s good work was undone in a little over 15 minutes as the hosts had no answer to a quicker, more direct approach from the visitors.

Warrington Guardian:

Picture by Mike Boden

It meant that for the fourth time in the last two months, Daryl Powell’s surrendered a position of considerable strength to fall to defeat and while this one is not damaging in terms of what it means for their season, it eats away further at fans’ confidence in what the head coach is trying to do.

It meant the last walk out of The Halliwell Jones Stadium of the year was another rueful trudge and if comments on social media are to be believed, there will be plenty who won't be back until things improve.

After all, this is the group of players who – with a small number of exceptions – will be carried forward into next year, when Powell continues to stress he should be judged.

Why is this continuing to happen? The players will no doubt continue to look at themselves, but Powell must do the same.

Can he really blame anyone who is struggling to believe in his vision right now?

What can be said for certain is that with every collapse and every poor performance, the pressure on him to fly out of the blocks next year increases.