BRADFORD BULLDOGS head into a double-header weekend desperate to bring an end to their four-game losing run in NIHL North Two.

After opening with two wins, the Bulldogs have found it tough going, their losing streak extended on home ice last Sunday when they were edged out 6-5 by visitors’ Sheffield Titans, who sealed victory in agonising style for the hosts with just 18 seconds to spare.

Saturday sees them face perhaps their toughest test of the season so far when they head to Shropshire to take on Telford Tigers 2, the only remaining unbeaten team in the league.

The Tigers are the form team and will be full of confidence after inflicting a first defeat of the season on regular season title rivals, Sutton Sting.

The Tigers prevailed 9-6 on home ice last Saturday, but still trail the Sting due to their Nottinghamshire outfit having played four more games so far.

Sutton beat the Bulldogs on consecutive weekends, shutting them out on both occasions, so head coach Andy Brown takes his team to Telford fully aware of the task in front of them.

“I asked the boys for a response from last week’s performance and for the first 20 minutes that’s what I got,” he said. “I felt we dominated the first period and probably should have been more than 3-1 up.

“But once again we failed to maintain our game for a full 60 minutes and, ultimately, paid the price.

“We know it’s going to be tough in Telford but, in the past, we’ve often given them good games. If we can put that 60-minute performance in, then we’ve got a chance of winning any game.”

Should their losing run be extended to five games in Shropshire, the Bulldogs have an immediate chance to get back into winning ways when they welcome Coventry Blaze NIHL to Little Horton Lane on Sunday (face-off 5.30pm).

The Bulldogs earned a valuable point in Coventry earlier this month, when they allowed the hosts to come from behind to win 4-3 in overtime.

Home ice advantage could be crucial to the Bulldogs’ hopes of giving their growing home support something to cheer about.

Against Sheffield, Connor Medley could count himself unlucky to end up on the losing side, scoring four goals.

He also set up Josh Stockton for the other one, but the hosts failed to build on their first period advantage, paying the price when - as overtime loomed large - Sheffield’s Ben Roebuck broke free before rounding netminder Jake Lowndes and slotting the puck home to steal both points.

Bradford Bulldogs v Coventry Blaze, Sunday, October 22. Face-off 5.30pm, doors open 4.45pm. Adults: £5; U-16s/concessions: £2.50; KIDS (U-12s) FOR A QUID; Family of Four: £12