FOLLOWING Swindon Wildcats’ 3-1 defeat away to Basingstoke Bison last night, player-coach Aaron Nell wants to see more from his side in the final week of their English Premier League play-off campaign.

The Cats fell behind in the first period at Planet Ice when Derek Roehl hit the back of the net but Sam Bullas soon restored parity.

However, a costly power-play in the second period saw Bison hold a two-man advantage as Swindon duo Robin Kovar and Stevie Whitfield were penalised for boarding and holding respectively.

And the hosts made the most of their chance to take control of the contest and went a goal up again through Tomas Karpov before Ciaran Long sealed Swindon’s fate with a third Bison goal with just five seconds of the match left to play.

After picking up their first points of the post-season in their second Group B clash on Saturday – a 6-3 win over Hull Pirates – Nell admits the defeat at Basingstoke was a bitter pill to swallow.

“They’re a little bit more consistent than us and that is why they finished third in the league over the regular season,” said Nell.

“I know on our night we can be better than them but it wasn’t quite our night tonight.

“It was tough with the penalties against us but that is part of the game. There isn’t much to say other than they executed well on their five-on-three.

“People need to step up now. We have a big week ahead of us and our imports need to be good.

“Our imports are supposed to be the best in the league but they didn’t score tonight. They, along with Stevie Lyle – who was great tonight – carry our team.

“We need more from everyone and it is a good challenge. We can take it for what it is.”

Following the result, Nell believes his troops have no room for error in their remaining three play-off games, starting in Milton Keynes Lightning’s trip to the Link Centre on Wednesday.

“Of course I am frustrated with the result. It was a close game and the last goal was unacceptable,” said Nell.

“We have a big week ahead of us now and we have to win three hockey games. It starts on Wednesday and that is the biggest game of the season.

“We just have to be ready and we will be ready. We have got to go hard because Milton Keynes are a good team.

“If you don’t go hard on them, then you won’t get anything from the game. We have to be desperate on Wednesday night.

“It hurts but it is still in our hands, we have to win three games. That is all we have to think about and we need to take it one game at a time. Wednesday is a massive hockey game. ”

In the other Group B fixtures, Milton Keynes were 5-2 winners away at Hull, while in Group A, Telford Tigers claimed an 8-3 triumph at the expense of Sheffield Steeldogs and Peterborough Phantoms lost 3-1 at home to Guildford Flames.