Sheffield Steeldogs need to improve leaky defence after losses to Swindon Wildcats and Basingstoke Bison

They went down 7-3 at Swindon Wildcats followed by an 11-6 roasting at home, at the hands of Basingstoke Bison.

A dejected Lewis Bell, Steeldogs assistant captain, struggled to explain the scale of both defeats

“We’ve conceded too many goals this weekend. It’s all confusing; it’s disappointing and frustrating how we’ve come unstuck” he said.

“I can’t quite put a finger on it. It’s the first time this season that we’ve not been in with a shout towards the end of games.

“I can’t describe this weekend other than frustrating. Is it a lack of hard work? Is it complacency? I don’t know but we have to change it.

“During training this week we have to get back to the hard work that we are used to, this will be the aspect of our game that will get us back to competing” Bell added. “Although we feel gutted now, we can’t sit around and feel sorry for ourselves for too long. You just have to dust yourself down and go hard in training, ready for next week”.

One highlight of the weekend came when Steeldogs tough guy Callum Pattison took Swindon’s Ryan Aldridge to task for what the club regarded as “some cheap shots.”

Against Basingstoke Pattison he unleashed a beating on Declan Balmer before delivering more big blows on Daniel Lackey who attempted to intervene. Pattison’s night ended there; his weekend’s work - three fights, three wins.

Dogs will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they play Bracknell Bees (7.30) at iceSheffield.