AARON FOX said Sheffield Steelers had some lessons to learn after seeing their unbeaten start to their Challenge Cup campaign ended at Coventry Blaze.

The Steelers - who had made it four wins from four Group A games when edging out Cardiff Devils the previous night at home - never recovered from going 4-0 down inside 25 minutes at Coventry’s SkyDome Arena 24 hours later.

In-form Mitchell Balmas reduced the deficit before the halfway mark with his ninth goal in seven games so far this season and Robert Dowd offered late hope when he made it 4-2 with just over six minutes remaining.

But that was as close as the visitors got, although they still sit at the top of the Group A standings having played half of their games.

FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION: Artem Buzoverya puts Coventry Blaze 4-0 ahead against Sheffield Steelers at the SkyDome Arena on Sunday. Picture: Scott Wiggins/EIHL Media.

placeholder image — FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION: Artem Buzoverya puts Coventry Blaze 4-0 ahead against Sheffield Steelers at the SkyDome Arena on Sunday. Picture: Scott Wiggins/EIHL Media.

As impressive as the pushback may have been after such a poor start, Steelers’ head coach Fox felt his team left themselves with too much to do - undoing some of the good work in the previous night’s win against Cardiff.

“It’s frustrating because we were so good on Saturday,” said Fox. “We did all the little things right, the buy-in was there and the compete level was high and through the roof.

“Then you kind of waste that performance tonight (in Coventry).

“That’s not a way you can start a hockey game and expect to win. We gifted two turnovers below our goal line where we have time to make a play and then an offensive blue-line turnover that turns into a breakaway.”

FRUSTRATED: Sheffield Steelers' head coach, Aaron Fox. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Steelers Media.

For the Steelers, it was a third game in five nights, while Coventry were playing their first game in eight days. But Fox showed no interest in excuses post-match.

“We knew this was their only game of the week,” he said. “We had a Wednesday game and played last night against Cardiff, but the reality is those are just excuses.

“We just weren’t good enough tonight and we have to learn from it.

“On Saturday, I think the only mistake we really made was that offensive blue-line turnover for Cardiff’s goal.

“Other than that, we played fast, we played north and we were connected. (In Coventry), it was one and done. We just weren’t making the plays we needed to make.”

The Steelers return to action on Saturday when they host Fife Flyers in the first past of a weekend double-header against the Scottish club, coached by former forward Tim Wallace.

The two reconvene in Kirkcaldy on Sunday.