Guildford Flames’ Player/Coach Paul Dixon has targeted consistency for his team as they enter the final third of the EPL season.
Despite winning eight out of their last 10 games Flames still trail leaders Basingstoke Bison by eight points ahead of this weekend’s double-header against MK Lightning.
Dixon commented: “We don’t have a lot of room now to drop points over extended sets of games, so the little string of wins we have going is exactly what we need.
“You can’t win them all of course, but we are looking for consistency now to ensure we get points on most nights.
“We were able to be very assertive early on against Telford last Saturday, and although we only had one goal by the end of the first, it really set us up for the remainder of the game and success over 60 minutes.
“In Bracknell on Sunday we were definitely a bit flat and didn’t have that same zip we did the night before, but we were able to play within the situation and not allow the Bees to take advantage to any great degree in a scrappy win.
“Now we need to be ready for an all-out effort for 120 minutes or slightly more against a great Milton Keynes club who are ahead of us in the title chase.”
Swindon Wildcats host Manchester Phoenix on Saturday aiming for immediate revenge for last week’s 5-0 mauling against Tony Hand’s team.
Player/Coach Aaron Nell wants his players to show the same level of work ethic that helped them win nine out of 12 games in the run up to Christmas.
“It’s a massive, massive game and it’s about getting two points, but it’s also about performance,” he said.
“We need to start playing well, start feeling good on the ice. It takes all of us – from me, to Carlo (Finucci), to Floyd Taylor. It’s all of us – we’ve got to pull together.
“We’ve got 20 more games left. We’ve had a great year so far – a really, really good year – and we’re going to be flying but we’ve just got to put the work in and that’s what we’ll do.
“You work hard, you get luck. I believe in karma and I think that six weeks ago, we were getting the rub of the green and we deserved it through hard work.
“We’re a good bunch and we’ve had a tough three weeks, but it’s going to build some character and we’ll bounce back.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday
Basingstoke Bison v Sheffield Steeldogs
Hull Pirates v Peterborough Phantoms
MK Lightning v Guildford Flames
Swindon Wildcats v Manchester Phoenix
Telford Tigers v Bracknell Bees
Sunday
Bracknell Bees v Hull Pirates
Guildford Flames v MK Lightning
Peterborough Phantoms v Manchester Phoenix
Sheffield Steeldogs v Swindon Wildcats
Telford Tigers v Basingstoke Bison
(Image permission: John Uwins)
