Blaze take heart from Scots battle; HOCKEY: Coach Thompson draws positives from amazing fightback.

Byline: Antony Hopker

COVENTRY Blaze can take some heart from their amazing 8-7 loss in Edinburgh on Sunday, according to coach Paul Thompson.

Blaze, icing a makeshift defence and short-benched side, allowed the fatigue of recent weeks to catch up with them as they conceded five goals in the first 12 minutes.

Thompson pulled net-minder Peter Hirsch off after the fifth goal, not because of anything that he had done wrong, but to spare him from the collapse of the defence in front of him.

That forced the side to pick themselves up, and they rallied round replacement Tom Murdy.

Blaze started to create chances, scored twice in the first period and played much better in the next frame, despite conceding two more and losing Luke Fulghum to a game misconduct.

Thompson criticised referee Moray Hanson for some of his decisions during the game. "Moray is a good referee but he seems to have a problem with some individuals in the side, and that's not what a referee should be doing. The penalties he called against us were OK but it did not feel like a balanced performance.

"We didn't deserve to come out with anything from the game. Edinburgh are a good side and are as good a skating team as any in the league. But I was proud of the way we stuck with it and showed commitment.

"We never quit when it would have been easy to do so. If we'd come away and lost 9-2, we would have been embarrassed, but we showed that we will never give up. To go five goals down and to come back within one was a good recovery - and we had a chance at the death but their goalie made an excellent save."

Thompson's next major headache is not dealing with the result but the shortage in numbers.

Tom Watkins picked up knee and neck injuries on Saturday, and Greg Owen was rushed for an emergency appendix operation after the 6-3 home win over Edinburgh.

"We really need Jason Robinson to come back. I think Tom and Greg will be long-term and being British they are hard to replace.

"We'll have to see how things pan out during the week, but we have been playing short on defence for a while and it caught up with us on Sunday," Thompson added.

CAPTION(S):

ACTION... Luke Fulghum backs up and (left) Derek Campbell in control for Blaze in the 6-3 victory against Edinburgh at the Skydome on Saturday. Pictures: Lee Busby.