Telford Tigers’ boss Tom Watkins has challenged his players to produce an immediate response after they tumbled to their first home defeat of the season against Basingstoke Bison on Sunday.

The Tigers’ 3-0 victory at Bracknell Bees maintained their seven point lead over MK Lightning at the top of the EPL, although Pete Russell’s team now have two games in hand.

Following the 4-1 loss against the reigning champions the Tigers are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to face Peterborough Phantoms in the final four of the EPL Cup, before two further games – including the second leg of that semi-final – next weekend.

Watkins said: “The big games are coming quickly for us now, with the game in Peterborough on Wednesday, then the league against Sheffield on Saturday, before we go back to the EPL Cup on Sunday.

“We’ve got to make sure all the guys bounce back quickly. It’s an important week coming up for us.”

Despite winning Saturday’s game at Bracknell Watkins was unimpressed with the performance, although he believed the victory could prove crucial towards their title chances.

“If you look back at the end of the season the two points will be important, but the performance was of a low level,” added Watkins.

“I think Bracknell grew in confidence, the longer the game went on.

“We should have won the game in the first period and we had some good chances to do that, but when you don’t, you give away hope.

“Bracknell are always going to work hard at home, and I don’t think we had the work ethic.”

(Image permission: Steve Brodie)