Expect the unexpected, warns Wilson

Feb 23 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

EVEN with 11 games to go many see the Vipers’ play-off draw as a fait accompli, but coach Rob Wilson thinks this weekend’s matches could give them a chance of upsetting the odds and breaking into the Elite League’s top four, writes STUART RAYNER.

It is hard to see the Vipers taking on anyone but Nottingham Panthers in the end-of-season play-offs. The fourth-placed team in the regular Elite League season will play fifth and the current occupants, Newcastle, are nine points ahead of Cardiff Devils in sixth and 10 behind Sheffield Steelers, who are third. They have two games in hand on horribly out-of-form Cardiff and one on tomorrow’s opponents Sheffield.

But Wilson thinks people are jumping to conclusions and believes back-to-back home wins against Manchester Phoenix and Sheffield this weekend could prove that.

“I don’t think that’s the way it’s going to go,” the Canadian insisted. “Our position depends quite a lot on how we do this weekend. If we win both games I honestly think we will finish above fifth this season. We’ve got our confidence back and, if we can keep playing like we are at the moment, anything’s possible. It’s like at Cardiff – right now they’ve lost 11 straight. They’re in a big game at Basingstoke at the weekend. If they lose they could end up not making the play-offs.”

Enforcer Andre Payette has added little-needed spice to tomorrow’s encounter after the Steelers released former Vipers hard-man Jeremy Cornish.

“I will bully them like they haven’t been bullied since they were in sixth grade,” he gleefully told Sheffield’s official website. “I was licking my lips when I heard Sheffield released Jeremy Cornish. They haven’t anyone there now who will play tough. I just started laughing, they’re going to get bullied so bad when they come here.”

The club’s English National League (North) and ladies sides also have home games at the weekend. The ENL Vipers entertain Blackburn today, the Lady Vipers host Cardiff tomorrow.

Billingham travel to Paisley Pirates today for a Northern League game which carries double points, while Whitley Warriors entertain Dundee Stars tomorrow.