Vipers coach lowers expectations
Mar 14 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
VIPERS fans have been told not to read too much into this weekend’s results – and not only because the team will be operating at about one third capacity.
The Vipers are at Sheffield Steelers tonight and Manchester Phoenix tomorrow as the regular season winds to a conclusion. Player-coach Rob Wilson (pictured right) wants to win both, but it is not a priority.
With a couple of weeks left, Wilson‘s main aim is getting his players in the physical and tactical shape to win the play-off trophy they picked up in 2006. In the midst of the worst injury crisis he has ever known, it is no easy task.
“I’ve got some work to do trying to get some guys healthy and back into form and the right mental attitude,” Wilson admitted. “That’s what we did last Sunday for 52 minutes. Once Sheffield got in front our heads went down and they took over.
“We’ve been playing well against the big clubs and we have to continue to play well against the big clubs. Sheffield will be celebrating their league triumph and there will probably be a big crowd there. But we’ll have to go in and forget about that. Hopefully we can spoilt their night.”
He may have to do so without Dean Holland, who fractured a rib in the last game against champions Sheffield. Rob Rankin has a dislocated elbow, Chris McAllister a broken foot and David Longstaff needs a heel operation in the summer. All will play.
“I would say we were probably at about a third health,” was Wilson’s assessment. “With about a third of our guys if we had more of a bench they wouldn’t play. It’s the hardest hit I’ve ever seen as far as the team goes for injuries.
“But you know what? It’s two games and you get through to the big show (play-off finals weekend).
“I hope Dean will be ready for the play-offs. He wants to play this weekend but you’ve got to be careful. You can get a punctured lung if you get hit the wrong way. I’ve got to worry about those little things with him. But he’s a great kid, he doesn’t want to miss games, he wants to play when he’s hurt.
“Hopefully we might see him in the line-up a little bit this weekend.”
Wilson unashamedly admits once his team trailed 7-1 at the end of last week’s first period in Edinburgh, he effectively threw the towel in.
“The Edinburgh game was a one-off,” he said. “Once we got behind I decided to rest guys and try some different things. Losing 1-0 or 9-2 doesn’t make much difference. From a fans’ point of view it’s not very pleasant. But we wanted to try a few different things.”
Billingham Bombers and Whitley Warriors bring the curtain down on the regular English National League North One season at Hillheads tomorrow.
