STEWART Dickson says Glasgow are preparing for a “cup final” against Redcar tomorrow – after taking themselves to the brink of securing an SGB Championship playoff spot.
Dickson’s Tigers took a point at Edinburgh tonight thanks to inspired performances from No 1 Richie Worrall and guest reserve James Sarjeant – who scored 13 and 12+2 respectively.
Glasgow may have taken the win had it not been for a late rally from the hosts.
Nevertheless, the point could play a huge part in ensuring the Tigers stay in the top four. The only team that can oust them are Redcar, who visit the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium tomorrow.
Dickson says if his side come through that with three points – to put them eight ahead of the Bears – they should be safe, with Monday’s playoff deadline fast approaching.
He said: “A point is always the minimum target when we go away from home – I know that sounds boring but it is.
“On Wednesday night against Ipswich, our guests didn’t work unfortunately – whereas tonight they did with James Sarjeant and Ashley Morris.
“But I felt there was an opportunity for more tonight, they were there for the taking. Before the meeting you’d have taken a point, but when you get there and you’re in the mix you see the opportunity.
“The good thing is that the two riders of our own that we’ve got to race for us tomorrow came through unscathed.
“Richie Worrall was fantastic tonight, but we need to get Aaron Summers going pretty quickly. He just can’t make starts at the moment, but he’s going to be so important for us tomorrow night – he’s our captain and takes a rider replacement ride. He has a massive part to play.
“We also need our guests to be flying tomorrow too and we need to get on with it.
“There have been one or two people questioning our team spirit – but if you’d been in our pits tonight you’d see there was nothing wrong with our team spirit.
“I can assure you that we aren’t giving up on this playoff spot and the guys are determined to fight to the end.”
He added: “We have a cup final tomorrow against Redcar and I know it will be a fairly unrecognisable team from what the fans are used to with four guests.
“But I would urge the fans to get out because it’s the most important meeting. If we take care of Redcar, we are almost there.
“If we beat them, and they get nothing, we would go eight ahead with a better for and against. Even with two four-point away wins, which is all Redcar could get, our for and against would take us through.
“With a win by tomorrow by seven or more, we will be in the playoffs. We need everybody to come out and get behind the team. We can do it.”
Worrall and Summers are the only regular Tigers present tomorrow.
Richard Lawson is racing in the Premiership Riders’ Championship at Belle Vue, while Nike Lunna, Dan Bewley and Tom Perry continue to be sidelined.
Jack Smith is also now on the injury list after he had to have part of a finger removed following a crash last night in a Premiership meeting at Swindon.
He is expected to attend Ashfield tomorrow, when he’ll provide an update on any possible return date.
Stuart Robson, Jake Allen, Simon Lambert and Tom Woolley will guest for absent riders.
Glasgow also face Peterborough on Sunday at 3pm in their final meeting before the cut-off.
Tigers scorers: Richie Worrall 13, James Sarjeant (guest) 12+2, Richard Lawson 9, Aaron Summers 5, Ashley Morris (guest) 4+3, Ryan MacDonald (guest) 0, Dan Bewley R/R.