|
|
|
|
|
|
KEY POINTS |
|
|
|
In 13 matches, the Brummies have lost only once – by only four points in a Sky Sports thriller at Rye House. And in their 7 home matches, the average score has been 57-33. |
|
|
|
|
|
Everyone will have to be on top form right from heat 1 where Steve Johnston and Aaron Summers are making a habit of opening with 5-1's. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Birmingham Brummies v Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday 12th May 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premier League |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Will there ever be a good time this season to visit the lion's den that is Perry Barr Stadium? This week it is the turn of Edinburgh Monarchs to see if they can put a dent in the remarkable start made by the Birmingham Brummies in the quest for Premier League points (7.30 start).
Graham Drury chose to retain only two of last year's team who had finished fourth in the league, Jason Lyons and Richard Sweetman. To this he added fellow Australians, Steve Johnston, Justin Sedgmen, Jake Anderson and our own Aaron Summers. The final piece of the jigsaw was Californian, Chris Kerr.
In 13 matches, the Brummies have lost only once – by only four points in a Sky Sports thriller at Rye House. And in their 7 home matches, the average score has been 57-33. Only Glasgow and Scunthorpe have so far managed to reach the 40 points mark in Birmingham. In contrast, Stoke and Sheffield failed to reach 30.
And staying with statistics, only two Brummies riders have failed to increase their starting averages. These are falling star, Steve Johnston and raw recruit, Jake Anderson. But such is the strength of the team that Jake seems set to get as long as it takes to reach his 3 point starting average.
Of the other five, Aaron Summers and Jason Lyons are over a point up each, Richard Sweetman and Chris Kerr have added over two points each, and Justin Sedgmen over three points. This makes for a combined team average of 49.85 compared to a starting figure of 42.33.
So there hasn't been a cloud on the Birmingham skyline so far, not even a volcanic ash cloud, to slow their relentless progress. Jake Anderson, he of the Scottish grandfather, is the only obvious 'weak link'. The other six riders all average above 7 points and have recorded only 13 last places in 13 matches.
So that's the size of the task facing Monarchs who will be hoping their German pairing of Max Dilger and Kevin Wolbert are fully fit so that they can at least field their starting seven. Everyone will have to be on top form right from heat 1 where Steve Johnston and Aaron Summers are making a habit of opening with 5-1's.
No team will fancy their chances at Perry Barr this season, so Monarchs can go into this match with the attitude that they have nothing to lose.
Probable line-ups
Birmingham: Steve Johnston, Aaron Summers, Chris Kerr, Richard Sweetman, Jason Lyons, Justin Sedgmen, Jake Anderson.
Edinburgh: Ryan Fisher, Jozsef Tabaka, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Max Dilger, Kalle Katajisto |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
