Jon Cook braced himself for Elite League heartache and admitted: "I'm gutted for the team, for the fans and for myself."

Cook's Eastbourne Eagles are in danger of missing the play-offs after their depleted team were pipped 46-43 in last-heat drama at Arlington on Saturday.

British champion Scott Nicholls led the last race from start to finish and Chris Harris got past Adam Shields and Davey Watt for a 5-1 as Coventry stole the honours.

It was the first time the Bees had led all evening.

Eagles' hopes of major silverware from a season of such promise now hinge on them suddenly rediscovering how to win away.

They probably need at least two wins from trips to Oxford (tonight), Arena-Essex (Wednesday) and Coventry (Thursday).

And even that would only secure another away tie in the play-offs.

Then there is the Knockout Cup. Eastboure still have to finish the job at Arena in the semis, though they have a 15-point lead from the home leg.

Cook sat quietly in the pit lane as Eagles packed away after this third home defeat of the season and reflected on bad luck which saw:

Nicki Pedersen reluctantly accept medical advice to miss the meeting after his crash in Denmark on Wednesday.

High-scoring reserve Oliver Allen called away by Kings Lynn.

Troy Batchelor and Trevor Harding already on the long-term injury list.

David Norris looking a shadow of his real self after persisent health problems.

Dean Barker defy a pinched neck nerve to ride.

Adam Shields rush back into Arlington action just 25 days after breaking his collarbone in three places.

Against that backdrop, Eagles gave it their all on a fabulous night's racing but were probably one fit rider short.

The Eagles promoter said: "I can't sum up how I feel. You're looking at a season's hard work for all of us just about to go down the drain in terms of the play-offs.

"I can't see anything we've done wrong over the course of the season.

"We've got a good team, great team spirit, the best support for several years, great sponsorship. The whole package has been right.

"The team is the most professional I've been associated with.

"We were destined to do something this year but they talk about luck and we've had none. Just look at the team we had to go into this meeting with.

"If we weren't a Saturday race track, if we were a Wednesday or a Thursday track, there would have been a top Grand Prix rider replacing Nicki.

"But there wasn't one available anywhere in the country.

"I'm gutted for the boys and for me.

"I've spent hour after hour trying to get some semblance of a team on track and they didn't let me down."

Norris had to rush to the start line after being physically sick before heat 11 and his season now looks to be over.

When he was feeling fresh, he led Shields in the heat-one 4-2 which gave Eagles a lead they clung to tigerishly.

Not least when Andrew Moore got past Martin Smolinski on the last lap to force a 3-3 in heat two.

Or when Barker hunted down Seb Ulamek and got inside him on the last bend to claim third in heat five, just as Harris was pipping Davey Watt for the win.

Shields held off Nicholls in heat six but Coventry were level a race later as Billy Janniro got the start and kept the pursuing Watt at bay. Shields comfortably scored a third succesive win in heat ten, though Janniro got inside Norris to limit Eagles to a 4-2.

When Barker used all his experience to thwart Janniro in race 12, Eagles had a 38-34 lead but Bees kept chipping away as their hosts ran out of manpower.

It came down to Eagles needing a 3-3 in heat 15. For a few tantalising seconds, Watt and Shields held second and third but Harris, who guested for Eagles recently and knows his way around Arlington, had the expertise to get through.

Cook paid tribute to Shields, who scored ten points from his first five rides before having to wait a long time for heat 15.

The Eagles boss said: "The fighting spirit he showed was fantastic. Most riders would still be two or three weeks from considering a return and others might have decided to take the rest of the season off and sit on the insurance money for the winter.

"I think we can win at Oxford and at Arena if get a good enough team on track.

"But I've got a sneaking suspiscion Poole will win at Swindon on Thursday.

"Maybe this is a team for another season. I've spoken to the riders and they know I want all of them for next seaosn if we can do that."

Eagles: Shields 12 (6), Watt 12 (6), Barker 7+2 (5), Moore 7+1 (6), Norris 5+1 (4), Jensen 0 (3).

Coventry: Nicholls 14 (5), Harris 13+2 (6), Janniro 8+1 (5), Smolinski 7 (5), Risager 3+2 (5), Ulamek 1(4).