SHEFFIELD will need all their home track advantage if they’re to reach the Premier Trophy Final – after suffering a 57-37 defeat at Birmingham.

The Owlerton decider on Thursday night has all the makings of a classic as the Sheffield Window Centre-backed side have no option but to go on the attack.

And they’ll need to be more than the two-man team they were at Perry Barr with five of the team managing a woeful 12-points between them.

Boss Eric Boocock used skipper Andre Compton as a tactical substitution in his second outing when the home side were 20-10 ahead and he managed second place from a 15-metre handicap – but a 4-4 race result was nothing more than damage limitation for Tigers.

Birmingham enjoyed two straight maximums to go 36-20 ahead and Tigers were in deep trouble with several members of the team failing to beat opposing riders.

Birmingham stretched their lead to 20-points in Heat 13 with a fine win by Craig Watson with guest rider Chris Mills third.

And although reserve Lee Smethills restored some pride with a win in the penultimate race for Sheffield, Brummies skipper Lyons won Heat 15 to complete a comfortable win for the home side.

BIRMINGHAM: Jason Lyons 15, Craig Watson 14, James Birkinshaw 11+2, Chris Mills 9, Lee Smart 6+1, Jack Hargreaves 2+1, Adam Roynon R/R.
SHEFFIELD: Andre Compton 14+1, Ricky Ashworth 11, Joel Parsons 4, Lee Smethills 4, Ben Wilson 2, Kyle Hughes 1+1, Paul Cooper 1.