Coventry coach gracious in defeat

JF Perras was beaten four times by Nottingham Panthers (Mark Tredgold)

Coventry Blaze coach Paul Thompson was gracious in defeat after watching his side lose 4-0 at home to Nottingham Panthers on Sunday.

There had been a war-of-words prior to the match following previous fixtures between the two sides.

Panthers netminder Michel Robinson starred for the visitors with 40 saves at the Skydome.

"Fair play to them. They've come in and put one over us," Thompson told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire.

"They probably took 50% of the chances they created for themselves.

"They absorbed the pressure we put them under for the first 30 minutes.

"They've run away with what looks like a convincing win. I don't think it was a convincing win but if you take your chances that's what happens," added Thompson.

David Clarke was the first Nottingham player to convert one of those chances in the second period before Johan Molin added a second.

The scoring was completed in the final period thanks to Brendan Cook and Clarke.

Tensions rose between the clubs after Blaze beat Panthers on penalties in November and Panthers' player-coach Corey Neilson said "the mystique of this Coventry team is over".

Coventry Blaze hard-man Carlyle Lewis responded last week by branding Neilson a "loser".