Sayfutdinov was paid 12 for his efforts in the cup defeat

Coventry Bees' chances of progressing in the Knockout Cup look slim after suffering a 50-42 home defeat by Peterborough Panthers.

Bees managed just three heat winners in the first-leg of the tie although Emil Sayfutdinov picked up 11 points.

Troy Batchelor made a 15-point maximum for the Panthers at Brandon who are now favourites to progress.

The second-leg is on 8 August while Coventry's next meeting is away to Eastbourne Eagles in the Elite League.

Bees boss Alun Rossiter was left bemoaning his team's fortune at Brandon.

He told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire: "Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong - engine failures and just not making starts.

"I don't know what to do. Luckily it was a cup match but we've got to raise our game now.

"We've got a few weeks off now and hopefully we can come back strong then."

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