Sheppard: We need more fire in our bellies (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Sheppard: We need more fire in our bellies

8:43am Monday 25th February 2013 in Sport By Chris Gregory

BASINGSTOKE Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard was left to rue a slow start after the Herd suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Sheffield Steeldogs.

Bison left themselves with a mountain to climb on Saturday night after conceding two goals in a first period that saw import Jaroslav Cesky receive a game penalty for his part in a fight.

Despite the Bison enjoying most of the play in the second period, the visitors found the net again. It was a blow from which the Herd never recovered, with Steeldogs’s netminder Dalibor Sedlar in top form.

The Yorkshire side have become Bison’s bogey side of late, coming out on top for the fourth game in a row, including a 3-2 win in Hampshire on Boxing Day last year.

Afterwards, Sheppard told The Gazette: “The way we started the game, it was one of our worst performances of the year.

“When we were down and a man short, we played hard but you cannot come out like that and expect to win the game.

“We have got to get back to playing well and winning our one-on-ones. We have got to come out with a little bit more fire in our bellies and start playing the way we can, having fun and winning games.”

He refused to put the blame on his side’s long injury list or the Steeldogs’ physical style of play.

The player/coach reserved special praise for Tony Redmond, who made his 600th appearance for Basingstoke Bison on Saturday night.

The Scot received a commemorative plate from the club before the match to mark the feat, and was warmly applauded by both sets of fans.

Sheppard said: “It is a marvellous achievement for one guy to have played that many games for one team.

“Obviously, he means so much to this team and to this town, and it’s great to see him get recognition for that.”

See The Monday Gazette for a full report and more pictures from the game.