Scott: We must be on our guard

Scott Naylor: time to be wary

SCOTT Naylor has warned of a Newcastle backlash from their shock defeat at Gloucester - which all but ended Thunder’s play-off ambitions.

Top of the table Oldham head to the North-East on Sunday seeking their 10th win in a row, but Naylor believes there couldn’t be a worse time to play on Kingston Park’s artificial pitch.

Stanley Gene’s Thunder, one of the pre-season favourites to take Kingstone Press League One by storm, slipped to its ninth defeat in 18 games at Gloucester.

Naylor said: “Knowing Stanley as I do, he’ll be desperate to hit back by beating us. This week he’ll be working harder than ever to make sure they are at their absolute best on Sunday.”

Having beaten Thunder 45-20 at Whitebank in May, Roughyeds will be looking for their fourth double of the season. Adam Neal, Gareth Owen and David Hewitt didn’t train last night but all three are expected to be back in action tomorrow night and available at the weekend.

Providing these three are fit, Naylor will pick from the 17 who played at Hemel plus Steve Roper, Tom Dempsey, Richard Joy and deadline-day capture Will Hope.

Naylor went on: “Everybody in the squad wants to play and that’s how it should be. My job is to pick a team to win at Newcastle.”