FORTHRIGHT Paul Blake has warned wounded Newcastle Eagles that failing to scoop silverware for the first time in seven years would be a “huge disappointment”.

The Eagles’ hopes of notching their fourth straight league title took a pounding in Liverpool on Tuesday as rivals Mersey Tigers edged a thrilling game – moving them back to the top of the BBL standings and taking the coveted head-to-head in the process.

Fab Flournoy’s men have now lost four of the six games the two teams have played this season, a record that they must break if they are to ensure they don’t end this year without a trophy for the first time since 2004.

They still have the Tigers to play in the league before the end of the season, and the odds are on the pair meeting in the play-offs too.

“It will be huge disappointment if we don’t win anything this season,” managing director Blake admitted.

“With the level of team that we’re putting out it would be very disappointing. We need to show what we’re worth between now and the end of the season because for me, we have a very good team that is capable of winning something.

“Yes, we have had a few knocks but from my perspective there can be no excuses. We lost Fab (Flournoy) and we have lost Joe (Chapman) but this team is still good enough to go and win things.

“And we are still in two trophies, despite the damaging defeat at Mersey. Some people still have us down as favourites because the Tigers have to play Sheffield three times – I have to be honest, that is not a view that I share.