Garside eyes full quota of points from strugglers

Published on Friday 14 November 2008 08:51

MARK GARSIDE today stressed that Capitals must emerge with maximum points from this weekend's double-header against fellow strugglers Basingstoke Bison and Hull Stingrays.

The eighth-placed Edinburgh side travel to rock-bottom Bison tomorrow before hosting second-bottom Stingrays tomorrow.

The pressure is on the Capitals to remain above this weekend's opponents and increase their chances of featuring in the end-of-season play-offs. They are also hoping to close the four-point gap on fourth-bottom Cardiff Devils and the five-point bridge between them and sixth-placed Newcastle Vipers.

The situation becomes more critical if the fact that the Capitals have played 20 games – three more than Hull and Cardiff and two more than Newcastle – is taken into account.

Belfast Giants are fifth with 20 points but they have only iced in 13 games while Tony Hand's Manchester Phoenix are fourth with 21 points from 16 starts.

Garside admitted: "The teams above us are pulling away and there is a gap appearing in the league. We don't want to lose touch. Basingstoke is a must-win game and so is Hull. In fact, every game against Basingstoke and Hull from now on is a must-win for us.

"We all want to make the play-offs for a second year running and, to do that, we have to stay ahead of Basingstoke and Hull."

Capitals have lost both their games against Bison, a 5-4 home reverse quickly followed by a 7-2 defeat in England. The club's 6-1 road success at Hull last Saturday was a major boost for the Scots but, prior to that, they had lost 3-2 at Murrayfield and 4-2 in England. The departure of feisty Canadian Jeff Hutchins in midweek is a blow but Garside, Britain's Young Player of the Year last season, added: "Sunday's home defeat by Cardiff Devils was disappointing, but we have to stay positive and look forward.

"Basingstoke are beatable. We should win the game. The team is playing better, particularly defensively. We're all working harder, from front to back, and goaltending is better. When you have that, it gives everybody more confidence.

"Basingstoke must not be underestimated, however. They have some free-scoring forwards with Greg Chambers the pick of the bunch. He was away with Great Britain in the pre-Olympic qualifiers last week and he certainly knows where the net is.

"However, I believe, overall, our squad strength is better than theirs and we should have enough to squeeze home."

Garside, who has scored five goals and recorded six assists so far this term, is also confident Capitals have enough to see of the challenge of Hull on Sunday despite the probable return from injury of key defenceman Troy Neumeier, the club's Canadian skipper who has also seen service with Belfast Giants and Coventry Blaze, and Ukrainian Pavel Gomenyuk, who has also played for Newcastle Vipers. The Murrayfield club are hoping some of Edinburgh Monarchs' speedway magic will rub off on them on Sunday. Monarchs have just completed their most successful season ever, winning three of the major speedway trophies, the Premier League, Premier Trophy and Premier League play-off. They also won the Spring Trophy and Scottish Cup.

Skipper Derek Sneddon will drop a ceremonial puck to start the game. Also on parade will be Monarchs' home-based stars, Andrew Tully, and Willie Lawson, plus Aussie ace Matthew Wethers.

Garside added: "The Bison game should be easier. I know we have a ten-hour bus ride to get there, but we should all be used to it by now, and your energy level is always greater on a Saturday.

"As to Sunday, much depends on how we get on tomorrow. If we have a decent result and a good performance then that will be a tremendous incentive for Sunday. Naturally, you always want to win at home to reward our fans, but a result at Basingstoke would open a five-point gap between us and that's what we want. Hull, however, should be strengthened from the recent defeat, with Newmeier and Gomenyuk expected back. That will make it tougher but I still believe we have enough in the tank to be able to win."

Garside believes he is returning to top form after being shaken up at Cardiff recently and he is pleased with the way his partnership is shaping up with hard-working Iain Bowie and Edinburgh-born and bred Neil Hay.

The hit-man from East Kilbride said: "I feel okay now, but I was shaken up by the injury. We are also playing better as a team. If we had beaten Cardiff at Murrayfield last Sunday then we would have been in seventh place in the table. We're in eighth spot and that is the final play-off position. We aim to stay there. It's unfortunate that we have to go to Basingstoke on Saturday as the game was not originally in our schedule.

"We originally didn't have a game and so could have rested up for Hull coming on Sunday but it is not to be because of the cancellation of Great Britain fixtures. We will just have to get on with it and I believe we have the strength in the squad to cope with the travel and pick up two wins."