PREVIEW: BIRMINGHAM v SHEFFIELD (ROWE MOTOR OIL PREM)

BIRMINGHAM have called upon two of their former riders to step in for tonight’s (Monday) televised ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash with Sheffield.

The Brummies have been hit by injuries to both Justin Sedgmen (concussion) and Piotr Pawlicki (hand) and have recruited Zach Cook – who lost his place at Perry Barr earlier in the summer – and Paco Castagna, who rode for them in the second tier, to stand in, whilst Michael Palm Toft makes his debut.

Sheffield go into the meeting second in the league table and looking to improve upon recent away displays, having been taken to a Super Heat on their previous visit to the West Midlands. They bring in Max Fricke to guest for the injured Tai Woffinden.

Birmingham CEO Nigel Tolley said: “We know results and performances of late haven’t been good enough. But this next home meeting against Sheffield could actually come at just the right time.

“Everyone on the outside will probably be expecting Sheffield to come and take the points without many problems at all.

“But for us, the Brummies riders are desperate to turn things around – and let’s be honest, there’d be no better way to get things back on track than by beating the champions.”

Tigers manager Simon Stead said: “We know our away form is an area that we need to address, and hopefully we can do that on Monday.

“There are no easy meetings in speedway though, and the lads have still got a job to do.

“I’m sure Birmingham will be desperate to get the win as well, so we’re expecting them to come at us; we just need to go there and apply ourselves in the correct manner, and hopefully we’ll have too much for them over the course of the 15 heats.”

BIRMINGHAM: Fredrik Lindgren, Michael Palm Toft, Wiktor Lampart, Zach Cook, Tom Brennan, Paco Castagna, Leon Flint.
SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Max Fricke, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.
SCB Referee: Phil Griffin