Eastbourne Eagles boss Jon Cook has sounded a warning to his riders ahead of this weekend's double-header against Oxford and King's Lynn.

Cook insists the Sussex squad must get their Elite League championship show back on track after the shock home defeat by Coventry. Or suffer the consequences.

"We are not going to hit the panic button over one defeat, but the riders know what is required of them.

"In that sense, we are no different to the fan on the terraces. This is an expensive team and it has been put together with the aim of winning things.

"It isn't a young team. It's probably the most experienced team Eastbourne have had and every rider has got the personal deal he wanted to do the job."

Cook wasn't in the mood to pull any punches. He said: "Our performance against Coventry wasn't good enough. It was a major disappointment."

Before the season started, it was no secret Eagles expected Arlington to be a fortress for the current team, yet Coventry shot holes in the defences in only the second league match.

Inspired by a wonder show from former Eastbourne protege Lee Richardson, the visitors overturned an 11-point deficit after six heats to clinch a thrilling 45-44 victory in a last-race decider.

And when Richardson's winning streak was halted at the seventh attempt, the man who delivered the final blow was Billy Hamill, who ironically might have joined Eastbourne in the winter.

Cook said: "It was fairly obvious that at crucial times during the match we were one ride away from winning. Even up to heat 14, which we should have won 5-1. I never reckoned on us having to get something out of the last race."

Toni Svab, who had been in blistering form before last Saturday, finished last behind Wayne Carter and Ryan Fisher in consecutive outings.

Cook believes the Coventry defeat might be a blessing in disguise.

"We have to take something positive out of the match, and perhaps that was what we needed after the fantastic night at Peterborough."

"We came away from there feeling invincible. I think we got caught up in the euphoria."

Having disposed of Peterborough home and away, Eastbourne go for their second quick-fire double of the season against King's Lynn at Arlington tomorrow night.

The Sussex squad dismantled the challenge of their rivals 53-37 on East Anglian territory a couple of weeks ago.

The return should be a routine affair against the team tipped to finish as wooden spoonists come September, although wins over Ipswich and Peterborough suggest King's Lynn are better than the no-hopers tag put on them.

Of far greater significance for Eagles is tonight's visit to reigning champions Oxford, where Eastbourne scored a shock win last season and have traditionally done well.

Oxford began this year as hot favourites to retain the title, but they have already lost heavily at home to Peterborough.

TOMORROW'S TEAMS: Eastbourne: Mark Loram, David Norris, Dean Barker, Stefan Andersson, Joe Screen, Savalas Clouting, Toni Svab.

King's Lynn: Nicki Pedersen, Tom Madsen, Travis McGowan (injured, guest or rider replacement), Artur Pietrzyk, Sebastian Ulamek, Freddie Eriksson, Emil Kramer.

The start is at 7.30.