After a double defeat: Trainer Saal expects a reaction

Created: 12/28/2021, 6:00 AM

From: Roland Halmel

His use on Tuesday is questionable: Defender Fabian Weyrich was injured in the game against Regensburg.

It is not certain whether he can compete with the Höchstadter EC today with the ECP.

© Holger Wieland

After the recent defeats, Peiting's coach Anton Saal expects a reaction from his team.

It is bitter that top performers are injured again - one of them has to take a break of at least eight weeks.

Peiting - With the two defeats in the "Oberpfalz double" against Weiden and Regensburg, the black series of EC Peiting against the top teams in the Oberliga continued.

Especially the 3: 8 against the "polar bears" with poor performances in the first and third third has an effect.

"We still have to work on the game in training," said ECP trainer Anton Saal.

He hopes that such a dropout will remain a one-time event.

Three more games are scheduled for the next six days.

Away game at direct competitor Höchstadt

It starts with the away game on Tuesday (8 p.m.) at Höchstadter EC, which is currently the fiercest opponent of the Peitinger in the fight for sixth place, which would mean direct entry into the play-offs. “It's going to be a duel on equal terms,” says Saal. The previous games against Middle Franconia have been close. Peiting won twice - first 2-1 after extra time and then 3-2 at home. In the home game, Fabian Weyrich scored five seconds before the end to win. Whether Weyrich can make the trip to the HEC is questionable, as the defender against Regensburg sustained a hip injury. Marco Habermann will definitely be missing. On Monday the bad news came that the striker's inner ligament had torn and that he had to take a break for a longer period of time for the second time this season, now at least eight weeks.

Bad news about "Marco Habermann"

On Thursday (7.30 p.m.) the ECP will be at home against EV Füssen, which is currently plagued by major financial problems.

“You can't say how the team will deal with that,” says Saal, having a hard time assessing tenth in the table.

Against the EVF, the Peitinger won both previous duels (2: 1, 5: 3).

In connection with the better placement, they are the favorites.

“We have to accept it, but the game will not be a sure-fire success,” said Saal.

"Nevertheless, it is clear that we have to win," he sees his troops under pressure.

"And after the Regensburg game, I want to see a reaction too."

In both games before the turn of the year, the coach will again rely on young players like the only 16-year-old Niklas Greil.

He made his debut on Sunday against Regensburg in the league.

“Otherwise I have no personnel alternatives,” explains Saal.

In Höchstadt, Tim Mühlegger, who most recently played in the Bavarian League for cooperation partner Kempten, will play in the ECP jersey.

Saal will only decide at short notice which youngsters will play in the home game against Memmingen on Sunday (6 p.m.).

"Memmingen is a top team, so we have to concentrate on playing for 60 minutes to be able to get something," explains Saal.