Bees Revenge Mission
We saw from the A fixture between Coventry and Swindon just how little difference there is between these two sides and that won’t change come Monday night.
The Robins won away from home on that occasion earlier in the season and the Bees will be determined to redress the balance this time around.
That 44-46 defeat hurt Coventry badly and forced them make changes to their line-up with Morten Risager making way for new signing Steve Johnston.
Johnston is a more experienced rider and although he has only been with the team for a few weeks they already have a more stable look about them.
Last time the crunch races at the sharp end of the meeting went in the Robins favour and clearly Peter Oakes will want an improved performance from his team.
But the Robins have world class riders throughout with the likes of Leigh Adams, and Lee Richardson, and Adams in particular is not fazed wherever he rides.
Certainly the Robins are a top team full of internationals and they should be used to dealing with the pressure generated by a top-of-the-table clash.
Coventry reacted positively to defeat and they need their top men to come good at the end of the meeting and make home advantage work in their favour.
Brandon is a fast track similar to the one at Poole at just over 300m and it is a real power track, which the Robins have at home as well, so it shouldn’t be a major issue for them.
With the Bees trailing the Robins by six points in the Elite League table they will want a victory to keep the heat on Swindon in second place.
The key to any season in Speedway is that you just can’t afford to lose to often at home, and everyone in the Bees line-up will be fully focused to make sure they don’t slip again.
Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris are the obvious picks for the Bees but watch out for new recruit Steve Johnston who joined the club from Oxford when they closed.
The Bees need him to come in with a solid point return and need their top men, Harris and Nicholls to deliver the goods as well.
The Robins had illness and injury worries ahead of their meeting last Monday that was ultimately cancelled, with doubts over Richardson and Tomasz Chrzanowski.
Team manager Alun Rossiter will be very keen to see all his riders back to full health and fitness for the battle royal on Monday night.
But I can’t see the Bees allowing themselves to get beaten at home again and the fact that this is a high-profile fixture that they need to win tells me that they should win this one narrowly.
Coventry Bees v Swindon Robins, 7.30pm, Monday Sky Sports 2
(copied from http://www.skysports.com/skysports/speedway — Report by Kelvin Tatum )