Tom Watkins apology for Telford Tigers defeat
Angry player-coach Tom Watkins apologised to fans after TRS Telford Tigers' homecoming turned into a damp squib with a 7-0 thrashing by Peterborough Phantoms.
Tigers snatched their first victory of the season on Saturday with a 5-4 success over Milton Keynes Lightning – but failed to fire 24 hours later in their first match at Telford Ice Rink since its £4m revamp.
Saturday night's performance was impressive given the good home record held by Milton Keynes.
But they struggled to match that effort against a powerful Peterborough outfit on Sunday – leading to Watkins offering an apology to the 850 fans who packed into the arena.
He said: "I can only apologise to the fans and the rink staff.
"There's 20 guys in the dressing room who should feel responsible that they didn't turn up. I don't care how old they are, the occasion got to them.
"I don't agree that Peterborough are seven goals better than us, although they were on the night.
"That is the first time this season that the team has failed to play."
The encounter in Milton Keynes was a high point as goals from Tim Burrows (2), James Preece, Callum Bowley and debutant Elliot Knell secured a first win of the EPL season.
But Sunday's disjointed display saw Telford fail to recover from a 2-0 deficit at the end of the first period, with three goals in the middle period making the result certain.
Watkins even asked his side to capitalise on the physical side of their game, in a bid to claw back some ground late in the match. It was, however, to no avail.
He added: "We went into the game full of confidence, and I can't put my finger on why we were so disappointing.
"There was a lack of fight and, when I ask the guys to drop the gloves, I expect them to do that. It is the first time I have asked the guys to do that and it isn't something I look to do very often. But when you've got a big crowd in, you've got to give them something.
"There are guys who battled hard and do that every night, but there are others who just didn't turn up."
Watkins will be looking for signs of a recovery in training this week as they return to twice-weekly sessions at the newly-opened ice rink.
Telford's first chance of redemption will come when they make the trip to Bracknell Bees on Saturday before the visit of Milton Keynes on Sunday.
