Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches No 1 Danny King admits the interval rollicking his side received at Redcar on Thursday night from team boss Phil Hilton was just what the team needed.

Hilton let rip into Ipswich after an abject first 11 heats saw the Witches six points down.

Four heats later the Foxhall side had turned it round and gained a two-point victory.

Tonight at Foxhall Stadium, the Witches will be looking for a quick-fire League double over Redcar, who are the visitors to the Heath.

“We are a much better side than our results are showing right now,” King, pictured right, said.

“To win away at Redcar in the way we did and with a couple of the boys not having a great night, just shows how good we are capable of being.

“But we need to start doing it more regularly, we have some tough fixtures ahead.”

At Foxhall tonight, Redcar should be put to the sword but such has been the inconsistency of the Witches riders so far this season – King and Nico Covatti apart – no-one is quite sure.

Certainly at Redcar on Thursday the Witches were heading to defeat until Hilton shook the riders up.

“Phil was certainly as vocal as I’ve ever heard him since he took over as team manager,” King added.

“He didn’t hold back and quite honestly it needed to be said. In fact I wish he’d said it after heat four or five in previous meetings, when we haven’t got going.

“But we showed what a good side we can be. Great character, great determination to get those points back and win the meeting.”

King has been a busy rider in recent weeks, showing good form for the Witches and Coventry Bees in the Elite League.

He has been named in Alun Rossiter’s World Cup squad for the clash at King’s Lynn.

“Coming to Ipswich was just the best thing for me,” he said.

“Coventry too has been superb. I give everything to both clubs, ride the same bikes, take the same amount of bikes to all meetings. It’s the only way I know how to do things – 100% all the time.

“I look at what Jason Doyle has achieved.

“He was doubling-up just a few years ago.

“Now he is an established Elite League rider, Polish League rider and in the Grand Prix series – he’s a great example of what can be achieved, but you have to give everything in every race.”

King and his Witches team-mates are still playing catch-up in the Premier League and with a home defeat to Sheffield already suffered, cannot afford few, if anymore, Foxhall slip-ups.

Tonight, Redcar are led by former Witch Lasse Bjerre who is always exciting to watch, while the Witches will be without Stefan Nielsen who is on World U21 duty in Italy – Coventry’s James Sarjeant takes his place.

The Witches continue with rider replacement at No.4 with team manager Phil Hilton explaining: “I keep rider replacement at No.4 because it allows me to use Nico Covatti in heat 14 which has proved more than useful.

“He has come up with the goods at Newcastle, at Plymouth and at Redcar. I’m happy with the way it is.”

Parade tonight is at 7.30pm.

Teams

Ipswich: 1 D King, 2 G Manzares, 3 N Covatti, 4 R/R, 5 R Tungate, 6 J Sarjeant, 7 R Hawkins.

Redcar: 1 L Bjerre, 2 J Graversen, 3 M Kus, 4 A Roynon, 5 S Robson, 6 R Konopka, 7 B Morley.