RYAN FINNERTY wants his Clan side to show more consistency as Braehead stretched their lead at the top of the EIHL table at the weekend to four points.

They recorded a gutsy 3-1 home win over Edinburgh Capitals on Saturday as their nearest rivals Belfast Giants lost to Nottingham Panthers.

Goals from Neil Trimm and a Scott Pitt double were enough to secure both points for Clan in a fiery derby which included several bust-ups in the second period.

In the return fixture last night in Murrayfield, Clan blasted nice goals past the Capitals to triumph 9-4.

But while maximum points would have cheered Finnerty, he admitted of the first of the double-header: "It wasn't our best game, that's for sure.

"It was a slow first period so I wanted the guys to go into the second with a bit more passion, and they certainly did that.

"In the third period we got back to playing with our usual style and we closed it out.

"It gets overwhelming when you look at the table but it's still early. It's more important that we regain our consistency. I thought Saturday was one of the poorest games in a while.

"But we found a way to win, that is the important thing."

The Clan coach added: "We know we can't get away with playing like that at home.

"We looked sluggish and that's frustrating. There is more to come."

Finnerty defended Evening Times columnist Chris Frank, who was ejected nine minutes into the second period for a hit on Sean Beattie.

The Capitals player needed treatment after the collision. Frank has served five match suspensions in the past month.

But his coach said: "It was a hockey play. They called it a charge but it's not.

"It's unfortunate the kid got hurt but it was a clean hit by Chris. He didn't leave his feet.

"It's getting a little frustrating when clean hits are getting penalised and guys are being thrown out."