RYAN Aldridge reckons the pressure is all on Peterborough Phantoms after Swindon Wildcats hauled themselves back in the chase for qualification for the English Premier League play-off weekend.

Phantoms looked to be cruising to next weekend’s big finale in Coventry after racing into a 4-0 lead in the first leg of the quarter-final at the Link Centre.

However, a goal from captain Jan Kostal late in the second period galvanised the home side and further strikes from Jonas Hoog and Tomas Kana mean they are well and truly in the hunt ahead of tomorrow night’s second leg at Planet Ice.

Cats may have to resume battle in Peterborough without Aaron Nell as the forward went off injured in the first period this evening.

Head coach Aldridge said: “I asked for a reaction going into the third period.

“We talked about being competitors and they were more competitive than us tonight but in the third period the boys showed up again and that puts the pressure back on them going into their building because at 4-0 it was a write-off.

“I don’t think it was luck, I think we just worked harder in the third period. We played a bit more gritty and a bit more demanding.

“The pressure is back on them now. Losing Aaron was a big loss but to get those goals and come back into the game is good.

“We’ll have to address his situation and see how we line up tomorrow. We’re not sure yet (if it will keep him out), hopefully not.

“With Aaron that changes the whole outlook on things. I can’t make a decision on who is going to play, or which imports are going to play tomorrow, it’s a decision I might have to make on the bus.”

Although Cats will have to come from behind in Peterborough, Aldridge insists the team will not go hell for leather chasing the game.

“We need a sensible game plan as we didn’t stick to our game plan in the first two periods tonight,” added Aldridge.

“We got out battled and we have a young team and I think we panicked in the situation and didn’t play our game.

“Hopefully the third period settled our nerves and we can go there and play our game and take it to them.”

Aldridge was keen to praise the Swindon faithful, who marked his final game at the Link Centre as Cats boss with loud applause in the 47th minute – his old playing number.

“It was a nice touch by the crowd, especially on 47 minutes, and at the end it was nice and loud as well,” he said.

“The crowd was really noisy tonight, even the Peterborough fans, I think it was going back and forth quite a bit. The fans were amazing tonight.”