Widnes Vikings ready to make Blackpool rock! (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Widnes Vikings ready to make Blackpool rock!

11:37am Thursday 25th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

VIKINGS boss Paul Cullen says the memory of two close defeats at the Shay Stadium earlier in the season helped fire them ahead of last Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup semi-final victory.

And he believes the same factors will come into play when they tackle Barrow in the final at Blackpool on July 12 in what promises to be a cracking encounter.

And with the winning club able to put a tick on their Super League 2012 licence application form, there is more than a silver cup at stake at Bloomfield Road.

Cullen admits that even though there is another league game between now and Blackpool, the primary focus is now on that final – in which he insists the Cumbrians will start as favourites.

Cullen said: “I would remind any fan who thinks Widnes are favourites to go and look at the DVD of the last time we played Barrow six weeks ago when they knocked us from one end of Stobart Stadium to the other.

“Barrow go into this final as firm favourites after what they did to us on our own ground in front of our own supporters.

“But hopefully we will leave Bloomfield Road with cheers ringing in our ears rather than the boos last time we played Barrow.

“That game will be in our memory – just as the previous two defeats against Halifax played a major part in our preparation for last Sunday. We’ll be looking at that good hiding Barrow gave us and use it to our advantage.”

Although they have won nothing yet, Sunday’s result appears to vindicate the tough measures and changes Cullen has had to put into place in recent weeks.

“What we have had to do has not been nice, pleasant or easy and unfortunately when organisations undertake such a massive shake up there are victims.

“It is not an exact science but I think the message has got across that this club has to take things a bit more seriously and everyone has to take responsibility and individuals have got to start delivering. There was a very good sign of that on Sunday,” said the Vikings boss.

Once again Cullen said the key was the discipline, defence, direction and their ability to cope with what the streetwise league leaders could throw at them.

“We never expected to go to Halifax and win 40-0. We knew at some point they would have a purple patch and mentally we were ready for it.

“What we had gone though in the last two or three weeks hardened us up for that period of the match and I thought we passed it with flying colours.

“To come from behind twice in a match of such magnitude is a real testament to the character of the club.

“I thought technically and tactically we got it bang on against a team that had beaten us twice earlier on in the season.

“I am pleased for players like Anthony Thackeray who has not had all his own all the way through.

“He has really toughened up in defence, not just his front on defence but also his scramble defence has been good as well,” Cullen said.

Meanwhile Cullen has praised the Vikings fans’ role in helping cheer the side to victory.

Twelve coach loads made the trip across the Pennines – and the club is looking for even bigger support for the seaside showpiece.

Cullen said: “The fans’ support was very important. Halifax is a tough place to play and has been intimidating for some of our players on the previous two visits.

“Last Sunday was the biggest game of the season so far and we came away with the spoils.

“We are looking to get some of the lost Widnes fans behind us. We haven’t won anything yet but we would like to do so with the full support of those we have lost since relegation.

“The atmosphere has certainly changed here – a couple of weeks ago it was 24-0 to Gateshead and the atmosphere in this stadium was awful.

“We have slowly but surely stuck at it and ignored the boos and got on with the job in hand and I am really pleased at the response and support we got when that whistle went at the Shay Stadium.”

The club have had an initial allocation of 2,800, which went on sale to season ticket holders yesterday.

The remainder go on general sale from 9.30am Thursday.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)