NEIL Middleditch admits he has plenty of sympathy for Leicester but insists his Pirates team must ramp up Lions’ misery tonight (7.30pm).

Leicester have been hit by a flurry of body blows with the latest being Lewis Bridger’s shock retirement on the afternoon of Monday’s loss to Pirates.

That departure, added to Bjarne Pedersen’s sudden exit earlier this month and injuries to Grzegorz Walasek and Josh Auty, has given team manager Norrie Allan a significant headache.

And while Pirates team boss Middleditch feels for the Elite League’s basement club, he insists that he and his riders are desperate for maximum points at Wimborne Road.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “I have a great deal of sympathy for Leicester. They have a new setup there and a nice stadium but they can’t seem to hold on to riders or find a rider in form.

“I’m not sure what Bjarne and Lewis Bridger’s reasons were but it’s really unfortunate for Leicester.

I’ve been in the situation where you have a lot of injuries and absences and unfortunately it’s the nature of the beast.

“In terms of injuries, speedway is dangerous and you just have to get through it as best you can.

“From my perspective, I’m here to do a job and manage against the team that is put in front of me. Leicester fought very hard on Monday and I’m sure the same will be the case on Wednesday.

“They are a wounded animal with nothing to lose. I know we are a tough side at home but I have no doubt Leicester will give it 100 per cent.

“I’ve been in this game too long to underestimate anybody and I will tell the boys that we need to put them to the sword as quickly as we can.”

Pirates’ 47-43 victory at Beaumont Park was driven by a superb display from fit-again skipper Maciej Janowski, who scorched to a 15-point maximum in his first British meeting since April 10.

Middleditch added: “Magic was outstanding. He was head and shoulders above anyone else and was winning some races by miles.

“He also had some tremendous tussles with Jason Doyle but got the better of him each time. Doyley is a pretty tough nut to crack around Leicester but Magic made light work of it.

“Overall, it was a good team performance. Chris Holder is still not up to full speed yet but everybody, including him, scored important points so I was very pleased.”

PIRATES: (from) Davey Watt, Kacper Gomolski, Dakota North, Chris Holder, Maciej Janowski, Kyle Newman, Paul Starke.