DEC Patton’s season-ending suspension has placed “unnecessary pressure” on the Bulls.

Mark Dunning admitted the club had expected their half-back to receive a hefty punishment for an eye-gouging offence in the Summer Bash defeat to Halifax.

But it has left the Bulls coach wrestling a half-back crisis with Jordan Lilley and Billy Jowitt both side-lined for the final five games.

Patton was found guilty by the RFL disciplinary panel and slapped with a seven-game ban – which takes it into next year.

Dunning said: “It’s an act that carries a serious suspension and, yeah, it was expected.

“It leaves a hole and it’s put the squad under some unnecessary pressure but we’ll deal with it and come up with the best answers that we can.

“We’ve got a few irons in the fire but I’m of the mindset that we’ve got what we’ve got until I know for definite that somebody is coming into the building.”

Teenager Myles Lawford is likely to get the nod again for Monday night’s TV date at York after his bright debut in the win over Workington – which ended the Bulls’ five-game losing streak.

“There were continued signs of improvement in parts but still parts where we could be better at,” added Dunning.

“One of the few shining lights was Myles. I thought it was a real mature performance from such a young bloke.”