SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter highlighted the importance of staying humble after his side equalled their biggest victory of the season when beating Belle Vue Aces 58-32 at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday night.

In sweltering conditions on Blunsdon Hill, Rossiter’s Robins claimed their seventh home win in a row while barely breaking a sweat to maintain their grip on fourth place in the SGB Premiership.

Down to six riders, due to Adam Ellis’ broken collarbone, the Robins’ main body more than made up for the talented Brit.

Fresh from a bronze medal with his native Australia in the Speedway of Nations, skipper Jason Doyle bagged a classy 13 points while compatriot Troy Batchelor top-scored once again with 13+1, aided by an extra outing in the rider replacement slot.

Tobiasz Musielak recorded at least a paid two points in all five rides as he scored 11+2 on his way to the Robins rider of the night award while Rasmus Jensen chipped in with an admirable 10+2.

But for all the good work from the main body of the team, real credit must go to the performances of the two reserves.

Ellis Perks put a difficult first race behind him to pick up 6+1 while showing decent speed throughout, and Claus Vissing was perhaps unlucky not to scoop the rider of the night prize himself – picking up at least a point in every outing – courtesy of a 5+3 performance.

Rossiter has called for more points from his reserves all season and, against quality opposition, his two duly delivered.

Following a meeting that featured 11 race points from his bottom two, Rossiter was quick to praise his number six and seven in the aftermath of Thursday night’s success.

He said: We’ve got a great top five and young Ellis (Perks) is settling in fantastically.

“He never gives up. He’s got that tenacity about his character and he does that little dive up the line. He’s been doing some really good rides lately.

“And Claus (Vissing) too, he’s plugging away, he’s been struggling with engines, and he’s assured me that he’ll be working hard to improve that.

“Even so, he still got paid eight points tonight, so that’s not bad for someone who’s struggling with engines against a very good team.”

And with yet another line-up change in the books, the Swindon boss felt the need to clarify his most recent call.

Rossiter insisted the decision to replace the ever-improving David Bellego with Tobiasz Musielak was a ‘tough one’.

“I’m pleased that Tobi (Musielak) is back,” said Rossiter.

“It was a tough decision replacing (David Bellego), but I felt in my heart that Tobi was the right one to go with.

“He’s come back and we’ve got to all keep going, just keep plugging away and keep picking up the three points.

“Adam (Ellis) will be back in a few weeks, but at the moment, we seem to be covering for him nicely. We’ve got a couple of weeks off now which gives him a bit more time to recover.”

As the Robins continue to try and build pressure on the teams above them while moving away from the trio of sides below, victories like Thursday’s not only achieve the desired result in that sense, but they also send a message to potential play-off opponents that the Abbey is not a place they want to visit.

Seven home victories in a row are evidence of that.

Rossiter said: “It’s important that we stay humble after a result like that.

“There’s no use screaming and shouting about it because it could just as easily be the other way around next week.

“We’ve just got to concentrate on Swindon now and keep doing what we’re doing.

“The most important thing for us now is to get some points on the road, work together as a team and I have to say, we have a great team spirit at the moment.

“It’s easy when you’re winning, but when things aren’t going right, there’s still a good atmosphere and that does make a difference.”