THE annihilation on Monday night has left everyone involved with Oxford Cheetahs still trying to come to terms with the embarrassing defeat.

A 64-28 home loss to Coventry Bees was, in my 28 years of covering Oxford speedway, the most complete domination by a visiting team I can remember.

It was the heaviest-ever Elite League home defeat, surpassed only by a National League reverse against Hanley in the inaugural 1949 season.

Excuses, well, there can be none really.

Team manager Mick Horton called the riders in for a mid-meeting pep-talk, but it failed to have the desired effect.

I understand owner Colin Horton was so incensed with the manner of performance by Cheetahs, that he was advised by promoter Aaron Lanney to leave the press conference to him.

In an unprecedented move, the entire team were sent to face the fans and apologise for the woeful performance.

The track was blamed heavily for the defeat, but like Steve Johnston said: "It was the same for both sides."