A disappointed Geordan Murphy spoke to LTTV following the away defeat to Harlequins in the penultimate round of this season's Gallagher Premiership and admitted that, despite a last-gasp try to secure a losing bonus point, ill-discipline in crucial moments and "silly decisions" let the side down in Twickenham on Friday night.
"I thought we prepared well, we were coming here to get a win," Murphy told LTTV.
"Obviously, we are short on confidence.
"I thought we performed well in the first half, then started the second half well and probably switched off a little bit and gave away some big penalties and some silly decisions.
"To come back and get a bonus point with some solid play at the death showed some good resilience."
Murphy was forced in three changes during the first half, all resulting from HIAs, and only welcomed back one of the trio again in the match - Telusa Veainu, who passed his assessment during the half time break at The Stoop.
However, despite being without starting flankers Guy Thompson and Mike Williams for more than an hour the Tigers coach said the club's posiition will always be the welfare of players.
"It was what it was, we were in a tough spot when we lost two boys within fifteen minutes ... i thought Mike [Fitzgerald] and Brendon [O'Connor] played well," he said.
"We need to make sure our players are looked after."
Veainu's appearance was his first start in the Premiership since September last year and Murphy was impressed with his performance and confident improvement will continue as he gets more time on the pitch.
"It was great to have him back, his positional play was great ... he will get better with every game he plays," said Murphy.
The Tigers boss also praised his front-rowers for what he believes was a win for them in the battle up front, including a host of internationals on both sides.
"I thought it was a great battle ... the scrum was great for us," he told LTTV.
"It was always going to be a battle ... and we definitely won that I thought."
The losing bonus point stretches the Tigers lead to ten points over bottom-placed Newcastle Falcons, who face Gloucester in Round 21 and require a bonus-point victory to keep their hopes of survival alive going in to the final round of this season's Premiership.
Murphy, who admitted he will have one eye on the Saturday afternoon fixture, was quick to point out that the situation itself was easily resolved with a last up win at home to Bath on May 18.
"Everyone in Tigers colours will watch the game and have one eye on it," said the Tigers head coach.
"It's not the way I wanted to survive ... I don't want anyone to have facilitate us.
"Our destiny is in our own hands, we can control it with a win against bath."
