AN alarming result for the Swindon Robins on Monday, when Alun Rossiter’s Coventry Bees, without a single point to their name away from Brandon, came to the Abbey Stadium and out-rode their hosts against the odds.
While no one would knock the visitors for gaining such an impressive Elite League victory, Swindon’s performance was so different from the one that saw Ronnie Russell’s men take apart Peterborough four days previously.
Morten Risager, as likeable a guy as he is, looked well out of his depth as he failed to score in three of his four rides.
Mads Korneliussen, imperious the previous week against the Panthers, could barely stay on his bike, twice falling under no real pressure from opposition riders.
And the Robins were left counting the loss of Thomas H. Jonasson to his month-long ban as Justin Sedgmen crashed awkwardly in his first ride and struggled after.
Time for changes, perhaps? Russell admitted afterwards that the possibility of bringing in new blood was on his mind, but whether the boss makes those changes or not, what is clear is that Swindon desperately need to sort out their early-season inconsistency.
The losses at home to Lakeside and Coventry were both avoidable, and do not scream out that the Robins are strong contenders for the play-offs this year.
Of course, the best way to answer you critics is to bounce back with a victory in your next meeting.
Poole, dizzyingly dominant against pretty much every team so far this season, lie in wait.
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