DEESIDE DRAGONS player-coach Marc Lovell believes a shift in attitude among his players has prompted their recent upturn in fortunes.

An indifferent start to the Laidler Conference campaign saw the Flintshire club fail to win seven of their opening nine games.

But a run of three successive league victories has galvanised the Dragons who are now in contention for an end-of-season play-off spot.

Lovell insists the team meeting held after a hard-fought 7-5 win over Altrincham Aces has been central to their improved form.

“We have turned a corner in these last few weeks,” he said.

“The team meeting we had a couple of weeks back allowed us to iron out a few things and get some issues out in the open.

“It was about sitting down with the players and addressing the slump we’d found ourselves in before that game.

“There were lots of games where we’d fall a couple of goals behind. Heads would drop and all of a sudden we’d lose the game.

“When those kind of results start to build up and it becomes a habit, the harder it is to get out of that mentality.

“It wasn’t that we were playing badly at all. It just felt as though we were throwing points away from good positions.

“I’m not saying there was a lack of effort from the players at all.

“It was more a case of us pulling taking responsibility for our own performances and knowing that only we could change the direction we were heading.

“I think that the run we’ve gone on in these last few weeks shows that the players have taken what was said on board and are generally more positive.”

A routine 9-0 victory over basement side Blackburn Hawks last weekend sustained the club’s new-found winning mentality.

But Lovell expects a far sterner test on Sunday when the Dragons head to Widnes Wild, who recorded a shock 5-2 victory over league leaders Bradford Bulldogs last time out.

He added: “That result just shows how any team can pick up wins in this league - it’s so competitive.

“We beat Hull early in the season which proves that every team is beatable regardless of their league position.

“We haven’t played Widnes yet this season, but previously I’ve played against most of their players and have a decent idea of what to expect from them.

“There’s a bit of friction between us and them, I suppose. We beat them to the title a few years ago and I’m sure they will be on a high after last week

“Winning matches is huge for confidence and it’s all positive among our squad.

“We’re playing consistent hockey for the full 60 minutes now, something we’ve probably lacked at times this season.

“All of the players are taking the gameplan on board and it’s a good position we find ourselves in right now.”

Bradford will look to preserve their slender one-point lead at the summit with a home victory over Sheffield side Senators on Saturday.

Title-rivals Hull Jets host Altrincham while Telford start their weekend fixture double-header at Telford Tigers.