Published: Thursday, 18th February, 2010 11:00am

Dumas looking for response against red-hot Flames

Comments (0) | Print | Email

Bracknell's Andrius Kaminskas tries to slow the Slough Jets down during last weekend's tussle at the Hive.

THINGS don't get any easier for the Bracknell Bees as they host the free-scoring Guildford Flames tonight (Thursday, 8pm) on the back of facing the EPL's top two.

Claude Dumas' troops worked hard over the weekend but suffered a 4-2 loss at EPL leaders Milton Keynes Lightning and then an 8-4 defeat at the hands of rivals Slough Jets.

Next up is the Flames, who have been on fire in recent weeks with 20 goals in their last three league matches, and they have also enjoyed playing the Bees of late, blasting 21 goals past them in their last two clashes, which ended in 10-2 and 11-5 victories for the Surrey outfit.

However, Dumas wants to set the record straight and douse the Flames, he commented: "Obviously we are disappointed with the last two performances against them and it is something we want to rectify.

"They have a quality team but do have bad nights. We have to make sure we make it difficult for them and control the pace of the game.

"We only lost 4-2 over there first time and I don't think they are as good as Manchester (Phoenix) or Milton Keynes.

"We've beaten Milton Keynes and could have beaten Manchester on a couple of occasions. We will be ready for Thursday and give it a good go."

Dumas is hoping that the Hive can conjure up an electric atmosphere to help Bracknell to victory. "We believe we can beat anybody at home," he stated.

"The support is good, we know our rink and we can get momentum, especially if we score first and that is important.

"If we can get momentum and the crowd going we can beat them, but we've got to be in the game to allow that to happen.

"We cannot gamble too much in the first 10 minutes, we will speak about that. Guildford were well in front by the time we started playing last time they came to our rink."

This weekend Bracknell travel to the Basingstoke Bison on Saturday, while on Sunday they host Swindon Wildcats, who are just one place below the Bees who currently occupy the last play-off spot.

"We know where we are and what we have to do to stay there," said Dumas. "They will be tough games but we are focused."