Workington Comets team manager James Denham is calling on his team to make better starts to meetings.
Comets have been showing their best qualities in the second half of meetings, but have been leaving themselves too much to do.
After a busy weekend which produced only two points from a home win against Edinburgh, Denham admits the play-offs might now be out of sight.
He said: “It’s been a gruelling weekend for the lads, and while we didn’t get everything we wanted, I can’t fault the fight and determination they showed.
“Friday at Armadale was tough, but Troy and Jacob really stood up and showed their class, keeping us in the mix when others were struggling.
“Saturday at Northside we knew if we started on top form we would be in with a chance – but we left ourselves too much to do after the first leg, but once the lads settled in, they rode superbly to take the win.
“For me we are not starting meetings strongly enough at home, and if we want to give ourselves a real chance of picking up aggregate bonus points, we need to be sharper out of the blocks.
“Then on Sunday at Oxford, again the spirit was there – we kept the tie alive right to the final heat and were only just denied by the narrowest of margins.
“We didn’t come away with the aggregate point, but Troy led from the front once more, Jacob stepped up brilliantly and put another massive shift in after Vinnie’s crash, and Antti was right in the mix too which is fantastic to see.
“There are definitely things to work on, and while the play-offs are probably out of reach for us now, we still have four fixtures to go and we will put everything into them.
“We are four down to Glasgow on aggregate ahead of our home fixture on Saturday and I’m confident if we start well enough against them we can do the job and pick up the aggregate bonus point as well.
“But it will be tough, they’re fighting for top spot.”
The meeting on Saturday will be back to the 3pm start time.
