Bulldogs coach Dave Williams targets turning point in season

LOOKING UP: Bulldogs NIHL player-coach, Dave Williams.

COACH Dave Williams says Bradford Bulldogs need to ensure this Sunday’s home game against NIHL North Two leaders Sheffield Titans must be a turning point in their 2025-26 season. 

The Bulldogs head into their second clash in as many weeks with the Titans and their third meeting overall. 

Both previous encounters have gone the way of a Sheffield team who are making the early running in this campaign, having won seven of their nine games. 

By contrast, the Bulldogs have just the one win to their name, their latest setback coming at Ice Sheffield in an 8-2 defeat to the Titans. 

Trailing just 2-1 after the first 20 minutes, the Bulldogs were undone by another poor middle period, shipping five unanswered goals. 

The third period saw a more even contest, but the damage had already been done, much to player-coach Williams’s frustration. 

“Conceding three quick goals early in the second period really set us back,” said Williams. “The second period has been where we’ve been losing games lately and that just can’t carry on. 

“We have to be smarter and more disciplined in our defensive zone. Performances have been frustrating recently and we need to get more pucks to the net to create better scoring opportunities. 

“We are carrying a number of injuries going into Sunday’s game but this weekend has to be a turning point in our season.

“We’ll be ready to make it difficult for Sheffield straight from the off on Sunday and make sure they struggle to play their game on our ice.

“I have said it before but teams need to know that coming to Bradford won’t ever be an easy game.”