Schlein realistic on Aces' hopes (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON ROBINS: Schlein realistic on Aces' hopes

6:00am Thursday 6th September 2012 in Sport By Andy Warren

BELLE Vue number one Rory Schlein is not expecting his side to have anything to shout about after their visit to Blunsdon this evening.

The Manchester-based club sit rock bottom of the Elite League having only won four times all season, and face a Robins side with designs on the title.

Schlein himself has only recently returned to the side following injury and is still working his way back to his best, while Charlie Gjedde and Craig Cook are both still missing from the Aces’ line-up.

The Australian is realistic about his side’s chances following a 60-33 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but has not given up all hope of getting a result.

“To be honest I am not really expecting a lot from the meeting, because it is top against bottom of the table.

“We have still got a depleted side with Charlie Gjedde and Craig Cook missing from the team for a little while yet, and what we have got really is a makeshift side.

“For me personally, I am still trying to find my form from last year when I was going really well, so we can’t really expect too much.

“But we will go there and do our best, just as we always do, and when you do that you never know what you can come away with.

“Every club has a spell like we have had once in a while, and there are plenty of ups and downs, that is speedway.

“It happens to every team and Belle Vue will be back for sure, but this year has been really difficult.”

The Australian is a familiar face in the Swindon camp having guested for Alun Rossiter’s side in place of Hans Andersen last week against Coventry, and knows exactly how good a side the Robins are.

“I guested against Coventry with a full-strength Swindon side, and they were very, very good,” he said.

“But saying that, I think the Robins were below-par considering the season they have had so far, but they still took all of the points which shows just how strong they are.

“The track was so different to what it is normally like because of the weather, but there were positives to take for me because I managed to pick up a couple of race wins which is good for my confidence.

“It was good to be in the Swindon camp, because it made a change to have a laugh and a giggle during the meeting because that has not happened with Belle Vue this season. “Things have been a bit down this year, but we are all working towards getting better.”