Panthers fans deserve so much better

Skipper Ulrich Ostergaard admits the Panthers supporters deserve better than the two dismal performances served up in their Premier League KO Cup exit at the hands of Somerset.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Jul 2016, 12:46 BST
Updated 7th Jul 2016, 13:52 BST
Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen in action against Somerset.Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen in action against Somerset.
Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen in action against Somerset.

The city racers were blown away by 48 points on aggregate after following up a 62-28 first-leg drubbing with a 52-38 home reverse in the return clash last Sunday.

Those results burst the bubble of a Panthers side who had won their six previous meetings to become challengers for the league title.

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Ostergaard admitted: “There is no doubt Somerset have a good team, but there is no way we should have lost the two meetings as heavily as we did.

“The fans definitely deserve us to perform better.

“The fact they have won five times in a row at our track is a bit of a joke and something we need to sort out as we could well meet them again in the league play-offs at the end of the season.

“We haven’t turned into a bad side in the space of two meetings, but we all need to up our game individually to make sure we get back to winning ways.

“The two KO Cup meetings have gone now and we need to focus on moving forward again.”

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Ostergaard and countryman Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen will attempt to lift the gloom by challenging for honours tomorrow night (Friday).

The Danish duo represent the club in the annual Premier League Pairs event at Somerset (7pm start) and Ostergaard reckons they are a pair of underdogs capable of delivering a powerful bite.

He added: “Myself and Michael Palm Toft reached the semi-finals last year when we were not among the favourites.

“We probably won’t be one of the teams tipped to win again this year, but I believe myself and Busk can do well.

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“We are flying in together, we are travelling down to the track together and we are determined to put on a show together as well.

“We’ll turn up with a positive mind and aim to get as far as we can.

“It would be nice for ourselves, the club and the supporters if we could do well.”

Panthers are in Group A with the top two finishers advancing to the semi-finals.

GROUP A

Glasgow - Richard Lawson & Aaron Summers

Workington - Claus Vissing & Kenneth Hansen

Somerset - Josh Grajczonek & Rohan Tungate

Newcastle - Ludvig Lindgren & Matej Kus

Peterborough - Ulrich Ostergaard & Nikolaj B. Jakobsen

GROUP B:

Sheffield - Simon Stead & Kyle Howarth

Edinburgh - Sam Masters & Ryan Fisher

Ipswich - Nico Covatti & Morten Risager

Rye House - Edward Kennett & Stuart Robson

Plymouth - Jack Holder & Todd Kurtz

Related topics:SomersetPanthers