Speedway: All to play for in the second leg for Wolves
Could have been better, could have been worse – that's my view of Wolverhampton's position heading into the home leg of their play-off semi-final with Poole on Monday.
They find themselves 12 points down after a night of good racing in midweek at the Dorset track.
And while I believe Poole should be the happier of the two sides, purely because they have the points in the bag, there is clearly a feeling in the Wolfpack that they can turn it around.
Last places for Grand Prix stars Freddie Lindgren and Tai Woffinden were costly in the 51-39 defeat – just a point in each would have made all the difference.
But I expect them to be better on home shale and the same applies to Peter Karlsson and Max Clegg who ran five last places between them.
As for the Pirates, Chris Holder was at his brilliant best and Antonio Lindback found it tough on his return to the club.
Holder, meanwhile, won't feel as confident and comfortable around Monmore Green, so there are points of encouragement for Peter Adams and his riders.
So, while I will go for a Poole win on aggregate, I see no reason why it can't go down to Heats 13 or 14 to decide it.
I'd have given Wolves more of a chance if they had kept the deficit to six or eight. Let's see!
I'm with Kelvin Tatum at Monmore on Monday. Kelvin has been working with Lakeside this season and helped get them in the play-offs, although they are set to go out at the hands of Belle Vue.
He's enjoyed a hands-on role with the club after he was approached by another Elite League outfit last year but early talks weren't followed up.
n n n n
Cradley are facing up to a huge week with two semi-finals in successive nights.
The Heathens face Eastbourne in the first leg of their Knockout Cup semi-final at Monmore on Tuesday.
And the following night the boys head to Birmingham, the runaway league leaders, for the play-offs with the return on October 10. Win or lose, I'd like to say well done to boss Will Pottinger and the lads for taking the season so far. No pressure from here, just give it your best lads!
n n n n
More than 100 tickets have been snapped up for Tai Woffinden's Q&A evening at the Cleveland Arms on October 12.
Wolverhampton's world champion has promised to be honest and frank about some controversial decisions he's made this year and fans from as far as Kent and Cumbria have ordered tickets.
Standard £10 places are still available on sportstalkevents.co.uk/bookingoffice or 01902 451021.
