KYLE Howarth thinks Swindon Robins should be looking out for their number one.

Alun Rossiter’s side endured a tough night on Thursday as they suffered a 53-39 defeat to Belle Vue Aces. GB reserve Howarth feels the team have lost the momentum they built up before the World Cup break.

Nick Morris shone at number one in the win over Coventry at the end of May, but only managed four points against the Aces.

With Adrian Miedzinski still absent for the Robins and Peter Kildemand’s temporary return to Blunsdon expired, prior to the Belle Vue defeat boss Rossiter admitted the situation at the top of the order needs addressing.

Howarth, who managed just six points himself, accepted the Robins were beaten by a better team, but does feel his side have been hampered by the issues at number one and the World Cup break.

“We need to get our number one sorted, I don’t know what’s going on there,” he said “It’s been a tough year for us injury-wise, we’ve never got going. Every time we’ve got a bit of momentum going it’s kind of kicked back. We have to keep climbing the ladder again.

“Thursday night shows we need to sort ourselves out, we were obviously missing our number one.

“Nick’s been at number one and he’s been doing good, but on Thursday we all lost points.

“It was a tricky night for everyone and not what we wanted for the first home meeting back after the World Cup.

“We got beaten all over and the better team won on the night. We didn’t lose because of bad luck or anything, they just made gates – they beat us fair and square.

“It’s sad to say and annoying for us because we want to do well, we’re a good team. We got on a roll before the World Cup, it’s kind of spoiled our run and we need to get back on it.

“We had a good team and a good vibe, everything was going good. I reckon we could have gone and won away.”

Miedzinski does not feel he is capable of riding more than once a week currently and, with good reason, prefers to do so in his homeland. Even if it is not permanently, the Robins need to get the Pole back to Blunsdon if they are to bring in a decent replacement.