ALUN Rossiter defended his decision to use youngster Robert Lambert in place of Craig Cook after guiding Team Great Britain to their fourth world championship final in five years on Tuesday.

Rossiter came under heavy criticism from a select group of fans after replacing Cook with Lambert following Great Britain’s first race of the night in heat two against France, a race in which Cook picked up a warning from referee Jesper Steentoft following movement at the start.

Knowing further movement from the Belle Vue Aces star would result in an exclusion, Rossiter opted to use Lambert in place of Cook for the remainder of the meeting.

And it proved a fruitful decision for the Swindon Robins boss, who watched his men total 23 points from their six qualifying rides – enough to book an automatic qualification spot for Friday and Saturday’s final in Wroclaw, Poland.

Defending his decision to not use British champion Cook after his ride in heat two, Rossiter said he had to do what was best for the team.

He added: “The biggest problem is there are people that like certain riders, and when those riders aren’t racing everybody seems to think it’s personal. But it’s not.

“Craig was great, he was there and told me to do what’s right for the team. It’s a team thing, it’s not about individuals.

“There are three riders in this competition and you have to make decisions.

“I just don’t get some people. If we messed up and didn’t qualify then I can get the criticism.

“But it’s not all about me, it’s about the team. And that’s what everyone else must remember, it’s a team event and we need to do what’s best for the team.”

Underlining his concern about hindering Great Britain’s qualification hopes, Rossiter said his decision to use Lambert in place of Cook was made easier down to the rule that states a reserve cannot replace a rider excluded for movement at the start.

And Cook, 31, took the news well, according to Rossiter – who said he has no issues or worries about morale in the team.

“If you could put a reserve in (after a rider exclusion) then that’s different. But you can’t. So I was very conscious that Craig was already on a warning.

“Craig was fine afterwards and that’s the beautiful thing. If he was sat there feeling uncomfortable it’s different, but he was comfortable with it.

“He’s been like that since we set out from the off, I’ve got no issues or worries about the team.

“(In) times like this you have to stay away from social media, I get that everyone has an opinion and people want the home rider in it but at the end of the day you’ve got to work for the team.

“He didn’t come last in his ride and didn’t let us down, 100 per cent he did not let us down.”