Peterborough Panthers team boss Trevor Swales has said he has no excuses for the 51-39 home defeat in the Elite League Knockout Cup against Lakeside.

He has challenged his riders to make amends as they travel to Lakeside on Friday evening for the return leg.

Swales told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I think that was one of the worst performances I've seen for a home team at Peterborough, there are no excuses.

"The problem was we weren't fast enough out of the gate or on the track."

Interview: Peterborough team boss Trevor Swales

It was Panthers' first meeting in 10 days but Swales insisted that could not explain the performance.

The track was hard but it's the same for everyone Panthers team manager Trevor Swales

"You could argue that we haven't had enough meetings, but the guys have been riding abroad so I really don't think that's an excuse," he said.

"OK, the track was hard but it's the same for everyone.

"I suppose we did play into their hands a little bit as it was a hot day, we didn't get enough water down and the track guys may have slipped up on this occasion."

Bjarne Pedersen will guest ride for absent Panthers captain Hans Andersen on Friday evening while Swindon rider James Wright comes in for Danny King.

Swales has not ruled out an improbable come-back in the return leg.

He said: "Hopefully, we can go down there, and try our hardest to do the same as they've done to us tonight."