SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell heaped praise onto his side after claiming a late win over the Hull Pirates at the Link Centre. 

Mark Smith had given the Wildcats an early lead with his goal in the first period. 

The visitors then drew level with three seconds of the first remaining, before taking the lead midway though the second period. 

With the score reading 2-1 to the Pirates deep in the third Jan Kostal popped up with the equaliser to take the game into overtime. 

Stevie Lyle was impressive again as he kept the home side in contention, before Sam Bullas pinched a winner in the 63rd minute. 

However Nell was delighted with how his team were able to grind out an ugly win. 

"We weren't at our best tonight and we know that, it was a very important win against a very strong team," he said. 

"They worked extremely hard but we came through in the third period, I thought we were hungrier in the last 10 minutes. 

"We were really good in the first period but we need to learn to get the second or third (goals) when we have teams on the ropes. 

"They got a very lucky goal in the first and we went on our heels, we can't afford to do that." 

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s tricky encounter with the Telford Tigers, Nell admits his side will have to improve from tonight’s performance.

“It was good to come back like we did, different people popped up today,” added Nell

“Telford are a tough team and the last couple of games we haven’t been at our best against them so we need to be better tomorrow and put in a big performance.

“We will have to be a lot better than we were tonight to get a win against them, they’re a very good team, we need to go and play hard.

“If we do that then we have a good chance, but if we don’t we have got no chance.”