Brummies set for key week in their season - Drury

Drury's Brummies are still chasing a treble this season

Birmingham Brummies team manager Graham Drury says his team are full of confidence approaching a key fortnight in their season.

The Brummies are second in the Elite League and have four matches in five days, beginning on 14 July.

They are also preparing for their two-legged Premier Trophy final against Newcastle at the end of the month.

"The frame of mind at the moment is that wherever we go we're expecting to win," Drury told BBC WM.

"If we don't win it's a huge disappointment to us all.

"I think that maybe wasn't the case in the past at Birmingham, but the team spirit and the riders that we've got at the moment mean that wherever we go we're expecting to win."

There are 14 teams in the league and only two of them are still in every competition and Birmingham are one of them

Brummies manager Graham Drury

The Brummies are still chasing three trophies this season, as well as the Premier Trophy final, they are also in the Knockout Cup semi-finals, and are still well placed to make the league play-offs, despite some recent disappointing finishes in away meetings.

"Next week is a very important week," Drury added. "We've slipped up on the road a couple of times this season. Losing at Workington [on 3 July] was a bitter disappointment.

"To win any championships or trophies you need a little bit of luck to go your way.

"I've been in the game a long time and I very rarely criticise referees, but some of the referee's decisions we had at Workington last Saturday were absolutely abysmal, but we've put that behind us.

"Let's hope that those little misdemeanours that have gone on in the last-heat deciders have gone by, and the ones to come go our way.

"There are 14 teams in the league and only two of them are still in every competition and Birmingham are one of them."

The Brummies consolidated second place in the Premier League table with a thumping 62-28 win over bottom club Redcar at Perry Barr on Wednesday.

Drury added: "When you look at a performance like that, you think was it Birmingham being particularly good or Redcar particularly bad?

"But you've got to look at the Redcar team; you've got [Gary] Havelock ex-World Champion, Emiliano Sanchez used to ride for Birmingham he knows his way around here as good as anybody, and Ben Wilson has had some very good results here.

"So the lads were really up for it and it was a very good all-round team performance without a weak link at all.

"It was a critical match to keep us towards the top end of the table.

"I said to the riders we mustn't have any complacency because on paper Redcar are a good team, but I have nothing but praise for all six riders."

The Brummies' challenge on three fronts could be strengthened by the return of two injured riders in the near future.

Chris Kerr has been recovering from a broken leg sustained in May, while Aaron Summers broke his collarbone in the Knockout Cup quarter-final in Somerset on 25 June.

"They're both desperate to get back," Drury said. "Chris Kerr is 90% certain to be back next Wednesday.

"He's going for a run-out at Wolverhampton next Monday and if there's no ill-effects from that, and we don't think there will be, he'll be back in the saddle next Wednesday.

"Aaron Summers will be a little bit longer, but we think he'll be fit for the final of the Premier Trophy in three weeks."

BIRMINGHAM 62: Justin Sedgmen 13+2, Steve Johnston 13+1, Richard Sweetman 12+1, Jason Lyons 9, Kyle Newman 8+2, Lee Smart 7+2, Aaron Summers R/R.

REDCAR 28: Emiliano Sanchez 9, James Grieves 6+1, Gary Havelock 5, Ben Wilson 4, Jade Mudgway 3, Tom Perry 1+1, Charles Wright 0.