ANDY BROWN is looking for the “desire and effort” that was missing from his Bradford Bulldogs team last time out when they head to fellow NIHL North Two strugglers Nottingham Lions 2 this weekend.

The Bulldogs’ head coach was left miffed after seeing his players surrender a 4-2 lead at home to Altrincham Aces last Sunday, eventually losing 7-4.

That came the day after a 2-0 loss at Coventry NIHL Blaze, a result that was expected but which saw the Bulldogs only fashion seven shots on goal throughout the 60 minutes.

It looked like being a different story against the Aces when new two-way signing Kai Hathaway plundered a second period hat-trick in just over two minutes to put the hosts in control at the halfway point.

But the visitors scored five unanswered goals to run out comfortable and, according to Brown, deserved winners.

“We created more scoring chances in the first 10 minutes agiainst Altrincham than we had the whole game in Coventry and we deserved to be ahead going into the last period.

“Unfortunately, we came out in the third period with zero desire and a total lack of effort, we dropped four unanswered goals in that 20 minutes and Altrincham deservedly take the points.”

Brown had face-to-face meetings with his players during the week and expects to see a reaction when they visit Nottingham’s National Ice Centre on Sunday night.

The Bulldogs are on the same points as basement-dwellers Nottingham and second-bottom Deeside, above both only due to a superior goal difference.

They face a crucial period in the next 10 days or so, with their next three games bringing them up against teams immediately around them in the standings.

A trip to fourth-bottom Sheffield Titans beckons on Saturday, November 2, 24 hours before a home encounter with league newcomers Deeside, the only team the Bulldogs have got the better of this season.

November is a pivotal month in general with seven games scheduled for head coach Brown’s team, including a trip to unbeaten leaders Sutton Sting on November 9 before return meetings with Nottingham and Altrincham, the latter both home and away.