SWINDON Wildcats head coach Stevie Lyle has said his players have responded to last weekend’s verbal warning, despite seeing his side fall to back-to-back defeats.

After beating Manchester Phoenix at the Link Centre last Saturday, Lyle asked for certain players to lift their game to ensure his side were firing on all cylinders.

That did not appear to have the desired effect as Swindon went on to lose on the road 24 hours later at Guildford and then at home to Milton Keynes Lightning in midweek.

However, player/coach Lyle says his players are reacting to his demants and believes they are not far off being where he wants them to be.

“The guys are starting to buy into the systems we are trying to play,” said Lyle.

“As crazy as it sounds, we are really not that far away from where we want to be.

“I have got to understand as well we are really a young team compared to other people and it is going to take time.

“Everyone is beating everyone at the moment, so that is a good thing for us this year as it gives us a bit of time.”

Lyle is preparing his side for a long weekend on the road as the Wildcats head to newly-formed Hull Pirates this evening, before making the trip to Peterborough Phantoms tomorrow.

With the departure of Miroslav Zalesak, Canadian import Kenton Smith will make his first start of the 2015-16 campaign this weekend, but Swindon will be without Toms Rutkis, who has an ankle injury.

“We have to win at Hull and then Sunday is going to be a very tough game,” added Lyle.

“I still believe in the team that we can do something at Peterborough.

“Teams have beaten them - no team is unbeatable - and if we can come out and get a few goals up in the first period and then shut it down.

“We have got a couple of injuries so we are a bit shorter than we are used to being, but sometimes teams play better like that.”