Griffiths admits Beeston squad looking thin on the ground

BEESTON manager Graham Griffiths admits his team is looking thin on the ground as they approach the business end of the England Hockey League season.

ENGLAND DUTY: With Alistair Wilson (pictured) and Adam Dixon on England duty at the World Cup, Beeston manager Graham Griffiths admits his team are looking thin on the ground (Getty Images)

The Bees were one of the in-form teams in the men's premier division as they approached the winter break, going unbeaten in their last six games after cruising through to the Euro Hockey League group stage.

But Griffiths' squad has been riddled with injuries in recent weeks, leaving the Nottingham outfit struggling to a 3-0 defeat at Hampstead and Westminster last weekend.

And having lost stalwart midfielders Alistair Wilson and Adam Dixon to the England squad at the World Cup in Delhi, the Bees manager admits his team is looking thin on the ground ahead of Saturday's clash with bottom club University of Exeter.

"We're limping on at the moment," said Griffiths.

"We've got a fair amount of injuries and with Alistair and Adam at the World Cup, that's effectively our midfield wiped out.

"We're thin on the ground at the moment and it doesn't bode well and with the match being on a Saturday, we'll miss a few more with job commitments.

"But we'll see. We are the home side, which is only going to help us, and we just have to battle it out and see what we can do."

While fifth-placed Beeston are still chasing a top-three finish in the league as well as European honours, they remain in the hunt in the men's cup.

Runners-up for the past two seasons, the Bees are desperate to go one better this term but have Doncaster to contend with first in Sunday's quarter final.

But having switched the tie to home ground Highfields, Griffiths is hoping a Nottingham crowd will spur on his injury-disrupted side.

"We know neither match this weekend is going to be easy," said Griffiths. "Doncaster isn't that far down the road and it will be a bit of a grudge match for both teams.

"But we've transferred it to Beeston and hopefully that will get us a big crowd.

"Obviously we've done well in the cup in recent years and it's a competition we really enjoy.

"It's quite important to us so hopefully we can get to the final again this year."