BIRMINGHAM boss Sam Ermolenko reckons his side are ready to “click” against Belle Vue.
The Brummies are wanting a repeat win over the ATPI Aces at Perry Barr in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership tonight, live on BSN.
The Brummies have won just two league matches this season, and one of those came three months to the day at the end of April when they defeated the Manchester side in a dramatic encounter which was decided in a controversial Heat 15.
Brummies are now on a run of seven successive defeats, but they put in a more encouraging performance against Sheffield last week, with Zach Cook now coming back into the line-up after impressing in that meeting. The home side also have Polish star Piotr Pawlicki back from injury at reserve.
Brummies boss Sam Ermolenko said: “Let’s just say I saw more good things against Sheffield. As I’ve said before, it’s been hard to get consistency in many different areas but we’re getting there.
“We’re still working on it, but when everything does all click on the same night, we’re going to have a really good night.
“Belle Vue have got a solid team but I’m looking forward to seeing how we go.”
The ATPI Aces are looking to improve their away record, but they travel without British Champion Dan Bewley who is out with concussion after a crash at Leicester on Thursday, with rider replacement in operation.
Team boss Mark Lemon said: “This is a crucial point in our season. We have just seven meetings left to consolidate our place in the 2024 play-offs and you can feel the tension is building.
“Birmingham may be well outside of contention at the moment, so in a sense they have nothing to lose and we must treat them with caution.
“But we have proven time and again that we can win matches without some of our key riders, and this is just one more test for us on the road to the play-offs, and we’re ready to embrace it.”
BIRMINGHAM: Freddie Lindgren, Michael Palm Toft, Wiktor Lampart, Zach Cook, Tom Brennan, Piotr Pawlicki, Leon Flint.
BELLE VUE: Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Dan Bewley R/R, Ben Cook, Jaimon Lidsey, Antti Vuolas, Jake Mulford.
Stream live here
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.