PETERBOROUGH face a tough task in front of the television cameras against Newcastle tonight.
That is the message from locally-based budding sports journalist Alex Sweeney, who is at university in the North-East and is a regular contributor to the Diamonds programme.
Sweeney, also the man behind the @NorthSpeedway service on Twitter, provides us with an in-depth look at tonight’s opponents for an East of England Showground clash being shown live by Sky Sports.
He writes . . .
The Newcastle Sapphire Engineering Diamonds arrive at the Showground in search of their first Premier League points of the season after going down 55-38 at Berwick in their league opener on Saturday.
It has been a mixed bag for the Diamonds so far this season with a hat-trick of home wins and a run of four successive away defeats. It is a similar story of contrasts within the team with some riders on song and others seemingly struggling for points.
Skipper Stuart Robson is one of the men in good form. The Sunderland-born racer is no stranger to the East of England Showground track as he boasts a wealth of Elite League experience although he will no doubt be hoping for a happier night than on his last visit when he suffered a broken leg while riding for Coventry last year.
Another Diamonds man with plenty of Showground knowledge is Chris Schramm, who began his career in the old Peterborough Pumas junior set-up.
The Essex ace was a Conference League title winner with the club and also appeared briefly in the Elite League for Panthers in 2005, but Schramm has failed to impress so far this season.
Lewis Kerr and Lewis Rose will have shorter journeys than most of their team-mates to Peterborough tonight.
Kerr, based at Heacham, and Rose, from Sutton Bridge, also ride together in the Elite League for King’s Lynn.
Kerr has struggled for the Diamonds this season even though he has been flying in the top flight. Perhaps the big, fast Showground track will suit him.
Rose should also find the Showground circuit more comfortable than as he has typically ridden on big tracks, but this is his first Premier League season and he may find it hard to match the pace of the Panthers.
Australian Christian has been arguably Newcastle’s most consistent performer so far this campaign, but number one Ludvig Lindgren has seen his scores drop following a flying start to the season.
Countryman Anton Rosen’s form has gone the other way, steadily improving as the season progresses. He scored very well home and away against Scunthorpe over the Easter Weekend.
I certainly think Newcastle will give Peterborough plenty to think about, but they might come up just short of collecting a point. A 49-41 home win would be my prediction.