Dave Simms' column: Sheffield Steelers

I couldn’t help but think, driving home from the Arena last Saturday, that the only team beating the Steelers right now are the Steelers.

Especially at the Arena.

Points dropped against Glasgow and Coventry, twice at home, are points that a team with championship hopes shouldn’t be dropping and that’s no disrespect to our opponents.

That’s the history of our league and facts.

I’m not getting on the back of our boys either.

I like this new Steelers team, the improvement has been excellent and I certainly buy into the long-term.

Nobody ever said this would be a quick fix or a short-term project.

No-one ever promised trophies but when you see how good we can be, the demolition of Nottingham, the road wins in Guildford and Coventry and of course two road wins in a very hostile Fife, then you get disappointed when you hand points away as we have at home recently.

I think Aaron Fox must go home and pull his hair out because he has the quality, the numbers, the personnel but right now just not the consistency – the most frustrating thing of all.

The one consistent he does have is the Golden Child, Robert Dowd.

He is hotter than a Birmingham Balti right now, scoring in both games last weekend.

With Marco Vallerand doubtful for the games this weekend, the Steelers will again rely heavily on Dowd to provide the firepower – but that’s OK because that’s what he does.

Dowdy leads team scoring with 10 strikes right now, Vallerand on eight.

Credit too to big John Armstrong. He has just four goals but 13 apples - the big man is dangling right now and setting up all around him.

First up for the Steelers was a Challenge Cup game with Manchester last night.

It was one of the club’s £5 tickets games and over 7,000 were expected.

Then at the weekend it’s back to league play with two games against Guildford.

We are home on Saturday (7pm) and then on the road 24 hours later.

The Flames haven’t found their stride just yet with brilliant wins one week and then defeat the next.

A battle of two inconsistent sides, four points this weekend would keep the Steelers at the top of the table and put pressure on Cardiff and Belfast who are playing catch up after their Champions League fixture congestion.

Make the Devils and the Giants earn their points – don’t give them a leg up with mediocrity from our end.

Finally, I want to credit our captain Jonathan Phillips.

One thousand EIHL games, over 1,240 in all.

The reception that the fans, the club and those around the league gave him last Saturday was humbling.

God, did he deserve it though.

The most successful captain in the club’s history.

A man who has served the club day or night.

Long may he be with us.