Preparation is key for Belle Vue

Belle Vue won't be taking anything for granted tonight

With the play-offs starting to loom, Belle Vue head south to Swindon tonight (Thursday) with high hopes for a big performance against the Robins as their top flight campaign enters a critical phase.

The competition between the top three is fierce, with the Rentruck Aces currently sitting second in the Premiership table, two points adrift of first-place Poole and only one point clear of Ipswich.

And with the Witches at home against Wolverhampton, the pressure is on for the men from Manchester to reproduce the stunning form that saw them take four points from Peterborough.

Team boss Mark Lemon, who has declared his side’s upcoming away meetings as “crucial to their campaign”, insists lessons have been learned from their last outing at the ‘new’ Abbey Stadium.

He said: “The last time we went to Swindon, the boys had a few issues adjusting to the new layout of the circuit.

"But we took a lot from that experience and are better prepared this time around.

“The Robins are a strong team on their home track, but even so the majority of the pressure will be on their shoulders.

"Our aim, as is always the case, is to come away with a point at minimum.

“We can’t take anything for granted in this meeting and, yes, we do have a point to prove after such an uncharacteristic performance last time, so I’ll be looking to the guys to make that point clear.”

The 2019 ‘Sports Insure’ British Final returns to Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium on Monday (July 29) when the best of British go into battle for the right to call himself champion.

Tickets available online at: www.bellevue-speedway.com and at the stadium box office on race night.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.