'Bogey team' leave Brummies at rock bottom

BIRMINGHAM boss Chris Adams admits his side have made their task of avoiding bottom spot in the Premiership 'hard' - but is refusing to give up hope.

- By RYAN GUEST

That's despite a fourth loss of the season to sixth-placed Oxford after missing out in a last-heat decider to go down 47-43 at Perry Barr on Monday night.

The visitors won two-thirds of the heats with a noticeable points difference also coming down from the reserve positions.

Guest Zaine Kennedy scored in each of his rides while Rising Star Sam Hagon failed to trouble the scorers, despite some quick starts along the way.

On the other hand, Oxford No.7 Luke Killeen enjoyed one of his most promising meetings at Premiership level and, ironically, Spires' guest Jason Edwards, the rider Birmingham opted against re-declaring in their team in the buildup, won two races on his way to seven.

It leaves the Brummies five points adrift at the foot of the table ahead of tomorrow's tough trip to Ipswich.

"It is disappointing but it's not over - we've just made it a little hard for ourselves now," said Adams. "I really thought we were finally going to get one over on them but they've become a bit of a bogey team.