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Leigh Adams: 'Inspirational'
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Without a doubt, Ipswich feel aggrieved at the Joel Parsons arbitration outcome and they'll be using that to motivate themselves.

Kelvin Tatum
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We're back to Elite League action on Monday as Ipswich host Swindon but I'd be remiss not to start by mentioning a significantly improved performance by Great Britain in the World Cup Race-Off.

Without question they redeemed a certain amount of pride, which was terrific. The spirit in the camp was vastly improved and although it's unfortunate that we aren't in the final, there was no lack of effort and I think we have a potential new superstar in Tai Woffinden, who acquitted himself extremely well.

Overall we just weren't quite good enough on the night but it was a performance that wasn't embarrassing - it was a good reaction after the showing in Coventry.

I would question the joker again though; when Scott Nicholls was nominated, he was coming off the worst gate and maybe Chris Harris should have been used off the better gate.

I'd like to think that Jim Lynch will reflect on that - he actually said during his interview before the meeting that he was concerned about Gate 1 - but it's his first World Cup leading Great Britain and he, as well as the riders, will learn from it.

Momentum

On to Monday's meeting then and it is a crucial period of the season for Ipswich.

They had a period before the World Cup where they were on that fantastic run - unbeaten in seven games - but then they had two and a half weeks off, got beaten at home, and then had another two weeks off, and went to Belle Vue and got beaten there.

They lost momentum so it is important that the Witches now get back to winning ways at home and then get on a bit of a roll. They have proven already that they can win home and away, so they need to take full advantage of those fixtures coming up.

It will certainly be tight. Swindon won at Ipswich earlier in the year when the Witches were dominating the meeting - but then they collapsed and the Robins ended up winning.

I'm sure Pete Simmons will remind the Ipswich riders of that; they need to dig in and pick up a result. With league matches running out, you can ill-afford to lose at home, certainly if you have aspirations of staying in the top four, so the hosts need to make sure they collect the points.

Aggrieved

If they can get on that roll like they did earlier in the season, Ipswich could surprise a few people and even get in that top two.

But it will be hard because their matches in hand all come in a short space of time, and of course teams like Poole and Lakeside - who also have games in hand and who incidentally I think have got a really good chance of securing a top two position - are also in the mix.

As for Swindon, Leigh Adams has been fantastic for Australia in the World Cup; he's quality, and in the Elite League he leads the team and is inspirational to the youngsters.

I think that young team has been one of the main reasons why the Robins have done so well. They were not fancied at the beginning of the year but they've been flying high and I fully expect them to be fired right up to continue their winning ways.

But I also expect the recent arbitration involving these two teams to have a bearing on the atmosphere at this one, too.

Swindon have of course been allowed to keep the three points from their win at Foxhall back in April, much to the disappointment of the Witches, who protested that their opponents had used guest rider Joel Parsons.

Without a doubt, that ruling in favour of the Robins will be at the forefront of Ipswich minds. They feel aggrieved at the outcome and I'm sure they'll be using that to motivate themselves.

Kelvin's call

HOME WIN: I don't think Ipswich will allow Swindon to turn it around this time. I do believe that they will use the situation with Joel Parsons, and the fact that they were beaten last time, to their benefit and pick up the points.