Nicki Pedersen today played down his latest Wolverhampton flashpoint after helping Eastbourne Eagles cruise into the last four of the Knockout Cup.

Eagles did not just defend the 17-point lead they took into last night's second leg at Monmore Green.

They actually extended it, leading by 14 at one stage before winning 51-41.

Pedersen, who rides on loan from Wolves, piled up four classy race wins before being denied a 15-point maximum by home skipper Peter Karlsson in heat 15.

But home fans were seething after an incident in heat nine when Pedersen appeared to threaten to headbutt Ronnie Correy after the home rider had gesticulated angrily at him.

Correy was unhappy at the way Pedersen cut across to pass during a race which was later stopped anyway when Cameron Woodward fell.

The home rider made his feelings known at length and Pedersen replied with a movement of the head towards his rival as the pair headed down the home straight to prepare for a re-run which the Dane won comfortably.

Pedersen said after the meeting: "He's okay now. We've been talking and I think we are grown up enough to stop having a go.

"Of course we are having a go when we are racing.

"It's just a race accident when no one came off and he's okay, he understands."

In fact, Correy seemed far from understanding. He said: "It was dirty racing. He could have given me a racing line and raced me properly but he is not known for that."

Wolves fans love to hate Pedersen, who seems highly unlikely to ever ride for them again.

They will find amusement in the fact he faces a £250 fine but will also recognise their team were heading out of the cup by the time tempers flared.

Eagles boss Jon Cook based his confidence for the return leg partly on the insurance offered by the nominated rider rule if Wolves built up a nine-point lead on the night.

In fact, it was the shell-shocked hosts who were digging out the black and white helmet cover as early as heat six after Eagles raced into a 20-10 lead.

Peter Karlsson's tactical ride was about as early as last throws of the dice ever come.

The home skipper, though, had to do it out of gate four and, after being delayed momentarily by Woodward in three, found there was no way past Pedersen, whose heat win limited Wolves to a 5-3.

Two races later, following a 5-1 from Adam Shields and Dean Barker, Wolves' second nominated rider proved even less successful.

This time Lewis Bridger was well clear and probably planning his post-race wheelie when Edward Kennett got past Christian Hefenbrock, a surprise choice for black and white, to give Eagles a 4-2. With Eastbourne now 32-18 clear on the night, 31 points to the good on aggregate and Wolves out of nominated rides, the knockout had been completed in the space of just eight races.

Eagles were on their way from the moment Barker won the toss and Norris got out of gate one like lightning and beat Peter Karlsson by inches to lead a heat-one 4-2.

Having been pegged back to 6-6, Eagles got a break in heat three when Freddie Lindgren, having got a flyer, saw his engine blow at the end of lap three, allowing Shields and Barker past for a 5-1 ahead of Correy.

Another maximum followed after Pedersen set the pace from the gate and Billy Hamill slid into the fourthbend air fence first time around in desperate pursuit.

Pedersen and the everlively Bridger shut out Magnus Karlsson in the re-run.

This was the first time in three visits this season Eagles had fielded a full side at Monmore and Barker felt it showed.

He said: "It makes a hell of a difference. I think we had it in control all night long."

Woodward landed badly on his wrist in his fall but expects to face Reading on Saturday, when Norris is also now expected to ride.