TEAM boss Trevor Swales dished out the plaudits to top scorer Henning Bager after plucky Panthers went down fighting in Manchester.

Swales believes Bager's paid 13-point performance ranks as one of his best-ever away displays in British speedway.

The experienced second string, now in his third spell as a Peterborough rider, claimed two heat victories on his way to a pleasantly surprising bumper haul at Kirmanshulme Lane - a track where he remarkably registered only one point three weeks ago.

Bager, the ill and injured Kenneth Bjerre (10) and stand-in skipper Danny King ensured the weakened city side were not sunk without trace in their return to action after an unhappy few days of off-track activity.

"We had hoped for better, but it was a respectable effort nonetheless," admitted Swales. "And Henning was absolutely superb.

"I can't remember him ever putting in a better performance away, apart maybe from at Lakeside where he is a specialist.

"We were always going to be up against it and our chances weren't helped with Kenneth not being well.

"He banged his right leg when he came off in the World Cup final on Saturday night and has come down with the flu as well, but he gave it his best shot and got among the points for us."

All thoughts of a takeover collapse, a fight for survival, the resignation of a co-promoter and the likely departure of a star rider were temporarily drowned out as the Panthers bikes roared for the first time in two-and-a-half weeks.

And the Hans Andersen-less side actually put up some admirable resistance against a home team also lacking their crown jewel - Aussie star Jason Crump was sidelined after breaking a finger in a crash during the World Cup final.

But the Aces always seem to have a trump card up their sleeves when Panthers roll into town.

In their previous visit at the end of June, Belle Vue's number eight Robert Ksiezak racked up a mighty, match-winning tally down at reserve - and last night recent recruit Patrick Hougaard did the same with 13+1 points.

He played a starring role as Panthers were always in arrears. The city side were 10 points down after six heats and saw their tactical ride mission thwarted when Bjerre was no match for home master Joe Screen in the seventh race.