Gateshead coach Chris Hood says he is encouraged by his side's progress going into their Northern Rail Cup trip to Blackpool on Sunday.

Hood is convinced the team is moving forward, despite last weekend's defeat by Workington.

"I've watched that game a few times and cannot believe that we've lost it," said Hood.

"The fact we're feeling like that just two games into the season, after such a traumatic winter, gives us real hope."

He added: "Blackpool are one of the favourites for this year's Co-operative Championship One and Martin Crompton is a good coach, but as far as we're concerned it's all still about us at Gateshead Thunder.

"We want to go and win but the most important thing is how we progress and develop as a team."

THUNDER IN 2010 2 Feb v Widnes (a) 50-6 L 7 Feb v Workington (h) 26-12 L 14 Feb v Blackpool (a) ?

Meanwhile scrum-half Liam Duffy suffered a rib cartilage injury in the game against Workington that is likely to keep him sidelined for up to four weeks, while Rhys Clarke is also unavailable with hand injury.

And Hood believes the loss of half-back Duffy played its part in last Sunday's reverse.

"Liam Duffy took quite a serious injury against Workington," he said. "You could see that within our play we lost a lot of our direction and it showed."

That defeat, and Thunder's previous loss to Widnes, have left the Tynesiders bottom of their pool.

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