MATT Ford admitted he felt sorry for Swindon after their Blunsdon massacre, but insisted Pirates would be more than happy to dish out another drubbing at Wimborne Road tonight.

Poole Castle Cover go into the second leg of their Elite Knockout Cup clash against the Robins (7.30pm) with a colossal 34-point advantage following their impressive 62-28 victory |at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.

And while Ford had sympathy for opposite numbers Gary Patchett and Ronnie Russell, he is keen to ensure Pirates maintain their unbeaten record on their own shale this evening.

Pirates owner Ford told the Echo: “I really felt for them, because I regard the people who run Swindon very highly. They are good people in the Russells and Gary Patchett, but you can’t ask your riders to take their hand off the gas because people are paid to score points.

“I don’t think there was anyone leaving Blunsdon on Thursday who thought what they had seen was good. It wasn’t good – it was a dreadful shame and something I know that when we go back to Swindon in a few weeks, they will want to put right.

“We’ll face a stern test and there is every possibility we could be beaten.

“But you have a job to do and you get on with it. I know Swindon will be smarting from last week and will come and put in a better performance tonight.

“But I would like to keep our home form going so it’s important we don’t just think we’re home and dry. Sport has a way of throwing up odd results and we have to be professional and race to win.”

Chris Holder notched a stunning 15-point maximum in Wiltshire, with countryman Darcy Ward banging in a paid maximum of his own as Pirates ran riot away from home.

It was a different story for the depleted Robins, however, with guest James Wright failing to fire and top guns Scott Nicholls and Simon Stead unable to stop Poole’s Aussie contingent.

Ford added: “They had taken a guest in James Wright who had scored 15 the previous time he rode there and this time he got one from five rides.

“Chris Holder and Darcy Ward, though, were nigh-on unbeatable and I don’t think it would have mattered who was in the Swindon team – they wouldn’t have beaten those two.

“Scott Nicholls and Simon Stead were in their team, but they didn’t manage to beat Chris or Darcy.

“They had the set-up dialled in perfectly and were incredibly fast – they were winning heats by virtually the length of a straight.

“I have every sympathy for Swindon because we’ve all been there, but it was one of those days where two riders in the opposing team were just awesome.”

Maciej Janowski and Nicolai Klindt return for the Robins this evening after missing Thursday’s first leg. American youngster Kenny Ingalls, Robins’ number eight, steps in for Jesper B Monberg who is committed to a Danish meeting.

For Pirates, reserve Christian Hefenbrock is still not fit, so Ford uses Kyle Newman alongside Renat Gafurov.

Poole: 1 Chris Holder, 2 Dennis Andersson, 3 Davey Watt, 4 Jason Doyle, 5 Darcy Ward, 6 Kyle Newman, 7 Renat Gafurov.

Swindon: 1 Scott Nicholls, 2 Kenny Ingalls, 3 Maciej Janowski, 4 Nikolai Klindt, 5 Simon Stead, 6 Justin Sedgmen, 7 Cory Gathercole.