KEIGHLEY’S head coach Danny McGee has accused his players of complacency ahead of their derby at home to Bradford Salem.

His team won nine of their first 11 matches in Yorkshire Division One, but have lost their last two at leaders Bridlington and Acklam in dropping from second to seventh.

Presumably McGee was not referring to the 66-17 defeat at Bridlington, when the visitors took an understrength side to a team that have now won 13 out of 14 and have the title at their mercy.

When he said: “All I can put it down to is complacency”, he must therefore have been referring to last weekend’s 27-22 defeat at Acklam, who had lost nine of their first ten but have since won three out of four to climb out of a relegation berth.

However, McGee, who says that his side have prepared well for Saturday, is certain that their mental attitude will be right against Salem, although he admitted that there were a few 50-50 calls in terms of injuries.

Salem are still wondering how they lost 19-17 at home to Keighley in late September.

Team manager Neil Klenk admitted: “We had scored a try from a catch and drive and went for anther one when, in hindsight, we should have kicked the penalty.

“But we lost the line-out five metres from their line and conceded a penalty for, as the referee explained, 'something on the floor', and they (Alex Brown) kicked it to give them a two-point victory.”

Back for Salem after a holiday is Max Trueman, who scored seven tries in his first three matches for the club, and he could be joined by another rugby league convert from West Bowling in fellow centre Jake Green, who impressed for the second-team last weekend in the 17-14 defeat at Wharfedale Thirds.

Full back Danny Belcher, who dropped out on the morning of last Saturday’s 33-15 home defeat against Beverley due to illness, is also back.

Bradford Salem (at Keighley) from: D Belcher, R Smith, M Trueman, K Brook, H Hall, N Fontaine, J Green; A Robinson, M Booth; T O’Sullivan, A Veitch, J Bradbury, J Morrell, J Cunliffe, E Perkins, C Manchester, C Baines, B Whitaker, B Birkett.

* Money will be raised for the Nathan Cubitt Trust (a paralysed former Keighley junior) and Prince Henry’s Grammar School on Boxing Day when an Otley XV face Prince Henry’s Grammar School Barbarians at Cross Green (2pm).