Richardson put Panthers 2-1 ahead on the powerplay

Nottingham Panthers assistant coach Bruce Richardson says the 3-2 home defeat by Newcastle Vipers on Wednesday was "unacceptable".

Panthers went 1-0 up through a Jade Galbraith strike and although Ben Campbell levelled, a powerplay goal by Richardson restored the advantage.

But Vipers hit back with two goals in the final eight minutes to win.

"Only one word can describe it is and that is embarrassing," a furious Richardson told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"Eighty per cent of the game is mental and I think we thought having lost a couple of games it was going to be a cakewalk.

"Any given night anyone can win and it's not acceptable."

Player-coach Corey Neilson has now seen his Panthers side lose four of their last six games but he fully expected them to beat a struggling Vipers side who had lost four in a row.

And despite not being at their best, Panthers looked set to hold on to the points until goals from Matic Kralj and Mark Gouett won it in the closing stages.

Richardson fumed: "Right now we are in the comfort zone and they think everything is secure.

"It's not good enough we have to impress every night and if we don't do that it's not going to happen. We have to compete.

"Teams aren't going give us two points because we are at home."

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