Speedway – Panthers on prowl with Masters missing

Sam Masters likely to be out for several weeks after crashing against Sheffield, Picture by Jack Cupido

Edinburgh Monarchs bosses say last week’s home defeat to Sheffield Tigers was disastrous and the Parsons Peebles-backed Armadale combine are now desperate to bounce back when they host sixth-placed Peterborough Panthers in SGB Championship on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm).

And there will be no complacency despite fourth-placed Monarchs recording their biggest victory of the season when Panthers last visited.

Graham Muncie, Monarchs’ spokesman, said Panthers were the victims of some woeful luck that night and he added: “With a much-changed team this time around another difficult tie awaits.”

Monarchs skipper Sam Masters is missing. He suffered a fractured collarbone after his Heat 13 crash last week and faces a six-week spell on the sidelines.

Newcastle Diamonds captain Ludvig Lindgren deputises and also in Monarchs trip to arch rivals Glasgow Tigers on Saturday (tapes-up 7pm).

Panthers are missing Bradley Wilson-Dean and Ulrich Ostergaard. Wilson-Dean is nursing a hand injury that meant he missed Panthers Fours victory last Sunday.

Ostergaard he has been called up to ride in his native Denmark. Ex-Monarchs star Justin Sedgmen deputises.

Panthers are led by three-time British Champion Chris Harris who guested for Sheffield at Armadale last week.

Jack Holder and Paul Starke are also danger men and Panthers will be looking for Reserves Simon Lambert and Tom Bacon to produce.