LEICESTER Lions team manager Simon Stead refused to make excuses for his racers after a heavy defeat at home to Poole Pirates.
The Watling JCB Lions were blown away from long periods by Poole as they were well beaten by a points margin of 53-37 at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena.
Pirates reeled off five 5-1s in a row after the first race and added one more by the finish as they often outgated their opponents.
Lions won just five out of 15 races and drew the opener, with Hans Andersen and Ricky Wells combining for their solitary 5-1 in heat 10.
Andersen top scored with 12 points and British veteran Scott Nicholls - one of four making their home debuts for the club - chipped in with nine.
Danish ace Andersen’s return matched that of Poole’s leading light Chris Harris, but the visitors were well on top by the finish.
Boss Stead, back guiding Lions at home after time away to get married, watched a fifth straight defeat for them and has issued a challenge to stop the rot.
He said: “Poole were evidently the better team and you can’t really make excuses for a scoreline like that. We are on the back of a poor run and we need to turn things around.
“It took us too long to get going, unfortunately, and when you’ve got new riders coming into the team they perhaps need to try and find the set up on a home track and get going.
“It wasn’t good enough, as a team, the riders know that and they don’t need me to tell them, as much as I have after the result.
“They are paid on their performance, so they’ll disappointed financially and for Leicester as a speedway club. The only thing we can do now is focus on the next meeting.
“They were one or two positives to take, Hans and Scott served up some decent racing and had a good points return, but results speak for themselves.
“We need to get a much-needed win on the board, every fixture is a chance to do that and all we can do is wait to race again.”
LEICESTER 37: Hans Andersen 12+1, Scott Nicholls 9, Ricky Wells 7+1, Charles Wright 5, Stuart Robson 3, Josh Auty 1, Connor Mountain 0.
POOLE 53: Chris Harris 12+1, Nicolai Klindt 9+2, Frederik Jakobsen 9+2, Richie Worrall 7, Josh Grajczonek 6+1, Brady Kurtz 6, Kacper Woryna 4+1.
