BELLE Vue boss John Perrin is ready to wield the axe again after his bottom-placed side made title-chasing Coventry battle all the way in last night's (Wednesday) Sky Elite League match at Brandon.

The Aces matched their high-flying rivals in the top-end duels but came severely unstuck at reserve where Blair Scott and guest Jason Bunyan managed just one point compared with 12 from Tomas Topinka and Billy Janniro.

It gave Coventry an edge the Aces couldn't quite overcome, even though they were right in contention with just four points between the sides midway through the match.

Perrin admitted: "We aren't getting it right at reserve and I have got to sort out the bottom end of the side. I will be looking around to see who is available but it is possible that I will change both reserves."

A return for Polish youngster Tomasz Jedrzejak looks certain following a break in which he has had time to sort out his bikes and make them more competitive. Jedrzejak's scores in Poland suggest he is capable of doing the job expected of him while Edinburgh youngster Blair Scott, brought in as a replacement, has failed to impress.

Changes

Perrin added: "I may also bring in a new face because we can't go on like this. We are so near to getting it right.

"We had eight of the 15 race winners which should be enough to win a meeting but we didn't have the right backing from lower in the team.

"It was a good meeting and we did okay. I couldn't criticise anyone for effort because the racing was good but we are still missing the last ingredient to the side at reserve."

The Aces were also checked last night by American Sam Ermolenko having two falls, once while in the lead, while star man Jason Crump used his World championship bikes - and found them too powerful as he struggled for grip on a slick track.

Jason Lyons maintained his brilliant form with 13 points from six races while Finnish champion Kaj Laukkanen justified his recall to the side with seven points.

COVENTRY: A Jonsson 12, B Hamill 10+2, B Janniro 7+1, S Robson 6+1, R Fisher 6, T Topinka 5+3, S Wilson 3.

BELLE VUE: J Lyons 13+1, J Crump 9+1, K Laukkanen 7, B Karger 6+1, S Ermolenko 5, B Scott 1, J Bunyan 0.