TEAM boss Neil Middleditch admitted Pirates had surrendered home advantage against Belle Vue and insisted the Wimborne Road circuit needed vital work.

Track conditions came in for widespread criticism on social media following Monday’s 49-41 defeat to the Aces, Poole’s first home loss in 13 months.

And while praising Belle Vue for their impressive triumph, Middleditch was left concerned by feedback from his riders over the tricky nature of the track.

He told the Daily Echo: “When you are the home team, you come to expect a certain standard and, normally, a consistent track so the boys have the right set-ups.

“The fact this issue is being talked about so much proves there is something not quite right.

“In effect, it wasn’t our home track and we lost our home track advantage. Full respect to Belle Vue because they adapted better than we did and thoroughly deserved their win.

“There are holes which need to be rectified. It’s not a good mindset when your home riders are looking at the track and complaining about holes.

“They get on with the job but they expect the track to be up to a certain standard, raceable and to their advantage.

“I’m taking feedback from the riders because it’s them that has to put their lives on the line.

“The Belle Vue boys won and I don’t want people to think it’s sour grapes because it’s not.”

Pirates failed to close the gap on the Elite League’s top three as a result of the humbling loss in front of the Sky cameras.

The Dorset outfit remained six points behind table-toppers Wolverhampton having completed a meeting more, with Swindon and Lakeside also above the reigning champions.

However, Middleditch is adamant there is no reason to press the panic button with less than a third of the campaign gone, the promise of an unprecedented fourth straight Elite League crown still very much on the radar.

He added: “Everybody knows the play-offs are the place to get to and there are a lot of speedway meetings to be run.

“I’m not happy with some of our form but that’s just the way it is. We have the firepower to do it so let’s not run for the lifeboats just yet.

“We’ve topped the league on a number of occasions and won it and we have scraped into the play-offs and won it.

“If we don’t get in the play-offs, then I’ll worry, but at the moment that’s still our target. Whether we finish first or fourth, no team holds any fears for us.”

Pirates face a crucial double-header next week when they take on fellow high-fliers Swindon.

The opening clash is at the Abbey Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday (4pm), with the return fixture at Wimborne Road a week today.

After twice locking horns with the Robins, Middleditch's men have no further meetings scheduled until the end of June.