Nicki Pedersen inspired Eastbourne Eagles to a morale-boosting 47-41 victory over the reigning Elite League champions on his return from injury.

The Danish star claimed a paid maximum as Eagles came from behind on a dramatic night at Arlington Stadium.

Pedersen missed the last three matches as he recovered from an operation on his wrist and Eagles lost all three, culminating in the shambolic defeat by Swindon last Saturday.

Things looked to be going the same way as Coventry twice led by six points in the first half of the match only for Eagles to storm back in the latter stages.

Pedersen said: "I think it helped that I was back.

"We struggled in the first three races but then I went out and won which gave everyone a lift. I found it pretty tough to hold on to my bike because Arlington is such a tight track and my wrist is still not 100 per cent.

"I was not feeling any pain but it is weak and I had to ice it between races to keep the swelling down.

"The muscle is damaged so it is just a question of building it up again with exercises."

Pedersen also helped Lewis Bridger claim the biggest scalp of his fledgling career. Eagles were trailing by six after just three heats when the 16-year-old held off British No. 1 Scott Nicholls to follow Pedersen over the line and complete a vital 5-1.

Bridger went on to collect 11 paid points and Pedersen believes he can get even better if he listens to his advice.

Pedersen said: "I told Lewis to watch my style because he was going a bit fast into the corners. I am trying to teach him a bit and he is learning fast."

Eagles looked to be heading for their fourth consecutive defeat until Dean Barker led home David Norris for a 5-1 in heat nine to close the gap to 28-26.

They went ahead for the first time thanks to another Pedersen victory in heat 11 and Bridger sent the home fans wild in the next heat when he beat Martin Smolinski in a race off after both Barker and Morten Risager had crashed out.

Nicholls miserable night continued when he trailed in last in heat 13 as Pedersen and Norris completed another 5 - to put Eagles firmly in control at 41-35 and the two teams shared the spoils in the last two heats.

Eagles boss Jon Cook said: "I was delighted with the performance.

"Most people must have thought it was the same old story when we went down early on but we showed a lot more fight.

"We kept plugging away and once we had weathered the storm early on we always looked like winning."