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A new blow for Wolves' play-off hopes

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Wolverhampton saw their play-off hopes dealt a bitter blow as they slipped to their sixth defeat in seven Elite League meetings at the hands of Coventry.

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They suffered a disheartening defeat at Lakeside on their return to action following the World Cup break last Monday.

This time, Peter Adams' side entered their first home meeting in over a month in desperate need of a victory.

Yet they were undone by the table-topping Bees, going down 50-40 in a fiercely contested encounter at Monmore Green.

The hosts hit the ground running early on as they struck back-to-back 5-1s following some sharp starting –but the Bees instantly fought back and, from that point, on it was a nip and tuck affair.

When Jacob Thorssell and Lewis Blackbird appeared to have made a breakthrough with a composed heat five maximum, they were instantly pegged back by Bees heat-leaders Hans Andersen and Chris Harris.

Freddie Lindgren failed to find a way past Joonas Kylamkorpi in a closely contested heat seven.

Then Stuart Robson brilliantly split Ricky Wells and Josh Bates in heat eight, with the hosts simply unable to establish any breathing space in a crucial clash for both sides.

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Their chances were dealt a severe blow heading into the interval, as Harris and Kylmakorpi shut out Swedish duo Thorssell and Lindgren in heat 11 to set up a nervy finale.

With tensions rising, Wolves were left standing from the tapes in the next two races.

They conceded two devastating 5-1s to condemn them to a bitterly disappointing defeat before Coventry snatched all four points in the final race.

Despite being dealt some good fortune with three Coventry tapes infringements, they could not take advantage on a difficult night. Jacob

Thorssell did notch two classy race wins early on, whilst reserve duo Lewis Blackbird and Josh Bates both impressed with strong showings in the lower order.

However, they conceded a 5-1 in the second reserve race in heat 12 whilst skipper Peter Karlsson endured an off night as he failed to record a race win.

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With Ricky Wells experiencing an inconsistent evening plus Freddie Lindgren and Tobiasz Musielak both struggling, the home side accounted for only five race wins.

The result leaves Wolves' season in limbo as they prepare to travel to fellow play-off hopefuls Swindon on Thursday in desperate need of a win, before welcoming struggling Leicester to Monmore Green next Monday.

Wolverhampton 40: Ricky Wells 9, Jacob Thorssell 8+1, Lewis Blackbird 6+2, Josh Bates 6+1, Peter Karlsson 6+1, Fredrik Lindgren 4+1, Tobiasz Musielak 1+1

Coventry 50: Chris Harris 12+3, Hans Andersen 11+1, Joonas Kylamkorpi 10+1, Jason Garrity 9+1, Stuart Robson 3, Danny King 3, James Sarjeant 2+1